Dr Rachid Mrabet received his PhD in Agronomy from Colorado State University (Fort Collins, USA) in 1997 and his MSc in Soil Physics from University of Minnesota (Saint Paul, USA) and Hassan II Agronomic & Veterinary Sciences Institute in Rabat (Morocco) in 1989. Dr Mrabet is Research Director and Head of Scientific Division (National Institute of Agricultural Research [INRA]). During his 26-year career at INRA, the main topics investigated related to conservation agriculture, no-tillage cropping systems, soil physics & hydrology, soil quality and carbon sequestration in dry areas. He published 9 books, 38 book chapters, 44 papers in peer-referred journals and more than 100 communications and presented his research results at various congresses and meetings in Morocco and worldwide. He has coordinator and/or has been member of 44 projects financed by different national and international donors and institutions.
The leadership of Dr Mrabet in conservation agriculture and no-tillage systems is recognized nationally and worldwide. He has been invited as a keynote speaker to various international congresses and national conferences. Dr Mrabet is a Council Member of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWAC) (2008-2016). He is Associate Editor: International Soil and Water Conservation Research (ISWCR) and is serving in Editorial Advisory Board of Soil & Tillage Research Journal. He has been consultant/expert for various international institutions. He received three international awards, two from the International Soil Tillage Research Organization (ISTRO) and 1 from International Erosion Control Association (IECA). In addition, in 2009 he received the National Award on Agricultural Research.
Dr Mrabet has taught several courses at national universities, international research and development organizations and NGOs. He has advised 19 M.Sc. and five PhD students in Moroccan and European universities and served in committees of more than 20 graduate students in country and overseas. Dr Rachid Mrabet has organized and served in scientific committees of several national and international conferences, the latest being the first international conference on Afro-Mediterranean soils (Marrakech December 18-19, 2015). He has also advised, worked and published in other research subjects such as salinity, irrigation, waste management, desertification, bioenergy, and wheat yield forecasting.