Reviving Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) in Morocco: A Climate-Resilient Forage for Sustainable Agricultural Systems

A Resilient Crop for Harsh Environments. Lathyrus is renowned for its exceptional tolerance to drought, poor soils, and other environmental stresses. Often referred to as an “insurance crop,” it can produce reliable yields where other legumes fail. Its adaptability to marginal lands makes it particularly valuable for Mediterranean and North African production systems facing increasing water scarcity and land degradation. This resilience positions grasspea as a strategic option for Morocco, where climate change continues to threaten both crop productivity and livestock feed availability. As a low-input crop, it provides an economical and sustainable alternative for resource-constrained farmers.

ICARDA’s Leadership in Grasspea Research. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) has played a pivotal role in unlocking the potential of grasspea in Morocco and beyond. Through its integrated research and development programs, ICARDA has advanced the conservation, genetic improvement, and promotion of this neglected and underutilized species. In Morocco, ICARDA’s efforts include germplasm conservation and characterization to harness genetic diversity; pre-breeding and breeding programs aimed at improving yield, biomass production, and stress tolerance; development of low-ODAP varieties, enhancing safety and expanding utilization for food and feed; and field evaluations and agronomic trials under diverse agroecological conditions. Beyond Morocco, ICARDA’s work extends across South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Mediterranean region, demonstrating grasspea’s adaptability and its potential to strengthen resilient farming systems in drought-prone regions.

A Promising Forage Crop for Morocco. While traditionally recognized as a food legume, grasspea offers considerable advantages as a forage crop, particularly in mixed crop–livestock systems that dominate Moroccan agriculture. Key benefits include high-protein forage suitable for ruminant nutrition; stable biomass production, even under drought conditions; and multiple uses, including grazing, hay, silage, grain feed, and crop residues. In addition, grasspea contributes to biological nitrogen fixation, enhancing soil fertility and reducing fertilizer requirements. Its integration into cereal-based rotations can improve sustainability and productivity while reducing dependence on imported feed, strengthening national feed security. Collectively, these attributes make grasspea a valuable component of climate-smart agriculture and a promising alternative to traditional forage crops.

An Existing but Underrecognized Crop. Despite its many advantages, grasspea remains underutilized in Morocco. Although it is cultivated in certain areas, its potential as a forage crop is not widely recognized. Several factors constrain its broader adoption, including limited awareness among farmers and extension services; historical concerns about toxicity, which is now mitigated through improved varieties; insufficient availability of certified seeds; and the lack of structured value chains and market incentives. Addressing these barriers is essential to unlock grasspea’s full potential in Moroccan agricultural systems.

Fostering Adoption Through Innovation and Awareness. ICARDA’s research, combined with global knowledge-sharing initiatives, provides a strong foundation for scaling up adoption. Strategic interventions can accelerate the integration of grasspea into Morocco’s forage systems:

• Awareness and capacity building: Promoting the benefits of grasspea through training, field days, and demonstration trials.
• Dissemination of improved varieties: Facilitating access to high-yielding, low-ODAP cultivars adapted to local conditions.
• Strengthening seed systems: Supporting community-based and formal seed production and distribution networks.
• Integration into crop–livestock systems: Encouraging its inclusion in cereal rotations and forage production schemes.
• Policy and institutional support: Recognizing grasspea as a strategic crop for climate resilience and feed security.
• Digital knowledge sharing through open access platforms: Enhancing visibility, reporting, and dissemination of research outcomes via the CGIAR MEL platform; Germinate and other platforms under different projects.

A Pathway to Climate-Resilient Agriculture. As Morocco seeks sustainable solutions to mitigate climate risks and ensure livestock productivity, grasspea emerges as a practical and scalable option. Its resilience, nutritional value, and low input requirements make it a valuable asset for smallholder farmers and national agricultural development alike. Rather than introducing an entirely new crop, promoting grasspea involves rediscovering and modernizing a species already adapted to local conditions. Supported by ICARDA’s scientific advancements and strategic partnerships, grasspea has the potential to transition from an overlooked legume to a cornerstone of resilient forage systems.

In Summary Grasspea is not new to Morocco, it is simply underrecognized. With strengthened research, improved varieties, and effective knowledge dissemination, it can evolve from a marginal crop into a reliable forage solution. By fostering awareness and adoption, Morocco can harness the full potential of Lathyrus sativus to enhance feed security, support livestock production, and build resilient agricultural systems in the face of climate change.