From June 13 to 15, 2025, CAAS hosted the first edition of the Salon des Innovations Agricoles du Mali (SIAM). The three-day agricultural fair was held under the motto: “Agricultural Innovation and Self-Determination: Accelerating the Sustainable Transformation of Agriculture in Mali.”
The event was held under the patronage of the Minister of National Entrepreneurship, Employment, and Vocational Training, Ms. Oumou Sall Seck, and was organized by committed stakeholders from the Siby region. As an innovative venue for agricultural education and community development, CAAS was an ideal location for the event.
The minister emphasized that investment in vocational training—for example, in the areas of agricultural economics, processing, and agricultural technologies—is crucial to unlocking the economic potential of the agricultural sector. The deputy director of SIAM, Mdme Sangaré Aïcha Bah, highlighted the role of women and young people as often overlooked but key drivers of innovative ideas.
More than 70 exhibitors, including farmers, start-ups, research institutions, and cooperatives, presented products, technologies, and projects. The fair was accompanied by training sessions, panel discussions, and an innovation competition. Thematic priorities included seeds, digitalization, climate resilience, agricultural financing, and food sovereignty.
CAAS used the fair to showcase its training work and present the products that were manufactured in practical lessons, among other things. Our national coordinator in Mali, Salaha Baby, emphasized that the fair was an opportunity to promote synergies between the various actors in the agricultural sector for the benefit of the population. The event creates greater visibility, networking, and innovation in the Malian agricultural sector, where CAAS is an active driving force at the interface of education and development.
