Conference Programme

For the full programme and session details, please visit our programme live: EDS EuroMed 2026 Programme

Conference Schedule

Monday, 22 June 2026

08:45–17:30 Registration

09:30–10:00 Opening remarks

09:30–13:00 Workshop on Non-Conventional Water for Sustainable Agriculture. Co-organised by IWRI and OCP Green Water.

Workshop Chair and Organizer Prof. Abdessamad Belgada, International Water Research Institute (IWRI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Morocco

10:00-10:50 Desalination and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Pathways for Sustainable Agriculture

Moderator: Prof. El Mahdi El Khalki, Professor in Hydrometeorology Modeling, IWRI, UM6P Jauad El Kharraz, CEO & Founder, Water Energy Climate Experts Network (WECEN)
Mrs. Ithar Khair-Allah, Director, Oum Er Rbia Hydraulic Basin Agency

Mrs. Lamia Housni, Director of Business Development, OCP Green Water (OGW)
Prof. Abdessamad Hadri, Professor and Researcher in Integrated Water Resources Management, IWRI, UM6P
Prof. Houssine Bouchaaou, International Expert in Integrated Water Resources Management and Groundwater Quality, University Ibn Zohr (UIZ) of Agadir; IWRI-UM6P

10:50-11:10 Coffee break

11:10–12:00 Integrating Desalination and Water Reuse into Climate-Resilient Agricultural Systems

Moderator: Prof. Youssef Amine Boussouga, Professor in Desalination and Water Treatment Technologies, IWRI, UM6P
Ehssan El Meknassi, International Expert in Water Reuse
Prof. Bruno Gerard, Associate Dean, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, UM6P
Mr. Zakaria El Yacoubi, Director of Irrigation and Agricultural Land Development (DIAEA), Ministry of Agriculture, Morocco
Mr. Redouane Choukr-Allah, Former Professor at Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II) and Expert in Water Reuse for Agriculture
Prof. Wafae El-Harraki, Professor and researcher at the National Higher School of Mines of Rabat, former Head of the Non-Conventional Water Development Department at the Ministry of Equipment and Water

12:00–12:50 One Health Approaches for Non-Conventional Water in Agriculture and livestock farming: Linking Water, Soil, Environmental, and Public Health

Moderator: Ngonidzashe Chirinda, Climate change scientist and Professor in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture at UM6P
Mrs. Soukaina Maaninou, CEO and co-founder of Ecolilab, Expert in Microbiology and Water Quality Assessment
Prof. Zakaria Hazzoumi, Expert in valorization of natural resources from semiarid ecosystems, AGBS-UM6P

Prof. Tarik Chfadi, Expert in Applied Economics for Water Resource Management actively engaged in the One Health Initiative, IWRI, UM6P
Dr. Lahcen Hasnaoui, Former DIAEA, Consultant in water treatment and quality control
Prof. Sanae Benmkaddem, Associate Professor in Immunology, actively engaged in One Health Initiative for Human and Animals, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UM6P

12:50–13:00 Closing

13:00–14:00 Lunch

14:00–17:40 Technical sessions

19:45–21:00 Welcome reception

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

08:00–09:00 Registration

09:00–11:00 Official opening
We are privileged to announce the official opening of the conference by Minister Azzedine El Midaoui, representing the Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation. We also anticipate the presence of representatives from additional ministries at the inauguration, pending their confirmation.
Details regarding the opening remarks from esteemed guests will be provided shortly.
Opening remarks for guests to be confirmed shortly.

11:00–11:40 Walk around the exhibition and coffee break

11:40–12:50 Panel session Advancing Sustainable Desalination in Morocco: Innovation, Energy Efficiency, and Integrated Water Management.

Co-organised by EDS, IWRI, OCP Green Water and ONEE.

Moderator: Prof. Fatima Zohra Charik, Professor and researcher in Desalination and Water Treatment, (ENS – UH2C) and Head of Chemistry Platform at the Innovation City (CITT – UH2C).

Mr. Khalid Tahri, Planning Director at Water Branch, National Electricity and Water Office, ONEE, Morocco

Lamia Housni, Director, Business Development, OCP Green Water (OGW) — Overview of existing projects of desalination and water reuse in Morocco

Prof. Menachem Elimelech, Nancy and Clint Carlson Professor, Rice University, USA — Cost and energy reduction in desalination systems and brine management and valorization

Prof. Abdessamad Belgada, Professor and Researcher, Advanced Desalination and Water Technologies, IWRI-UM6P — Innovative technologies in desalination: CMF pretreatment for SWRO-OGW Safi case study

Prof. Tarik Chfadi, Expert in Applied Economics for Water Resource Management — Vision for integrated water management in Morocco

12:50–13:50 Lunch

13:50–17:50 Technical sessions

17:30–18:30 Poster Pitches

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

09:00–10:10 Technical sessions

10:10–10:30 Coffee break

10:30–11:40 Panel session Misconceptions Affecting Social Perception and Acceptance of Desalination.

Co-organised by EDS and the Expert Group on Desalination of Water Europe.

Moderators: Olga Ferrer and Guillermo Zaragoza Sofía Tirado (Real Instituto Elcano, Spain)
Lina Migliore (US Fulbright Program, USA)
Silvia Gallego (AEDyR)

Olga Sallangos (EDS)
Elhoussin Zidouri (ONEE, Morocco) Mahmoud Hafsi (SMMD, Consultant) Ramiro Angulo (Junta de Andalucía, Spain)

11:40–13:00 Technical sessions

13:00–14:00 Lunch

14:00–15:40 Technical sessions

15:40–16:00 Coffee break

16:00–18:00 Technical sessions

20:00–24:00 Gala event at Kasbah Palm, Palmeraie. Sponsored by FEDCO

Thursday, 25 June 2025

09:00–10:00 Technical sessions

10:00–10:20 Coffee break

10:20–12:00 Technical sessions

12:40–13:55 Innovation Panel session with the finalists of the Miriam Balaban Innovation Award. Sponsored by ACWA

Moderator: Carmelo Morgante. Phd. Joint winner of the Miriam Balaban Innovation Award, Cyprus 2023.

12:50–13:05 Opening remarks:

12:50–13:00 Carmelo Morgante, PhD. Joint winner, Cyprus 2023

13:00–13:05 Omar Alaoui Mhamd, ACWA Country General Manager, Morocco

13:05–13:35 Miriam Balaban Innovation Award Finalists. Presentations with 5 minutes for Q&A

13:05–13:15 Chris Rose, Sidon Water IntegroTM. Chemical-free scaling control for RO and Desalination.

13:15–13:25 Christine Kleffner, Harmony De-Salting, USA. Batch desalting for superior performance.

13:25–13:35 Craig Beckman, Aqua Membranes, USA. 3D printed spacer technology for RO membranes.

13:35–13:45 Girts Ozalins, Spectromarine, The Netherlands. Preventative bio-fouling platform for operational cost optimisation in SWRO

13:45–13:55 Alexander Baekelandt, SeaQual, UK. AI-driven raw water quality forecasting.

13:55–14:40 Lunch

14:40–14:50 Global Prize for Innovation in Water Arianna Basso, Manager

14:50–15:30 Closing ceremony and the announcement of the winner of the Miriam Balaban Award