An essential resource, drinking water is nevertheless inaccessible to almost a third of the world's population. Human activity exacerbates this scarcity, with 80% of wastewater discharged into the environment without prior treatment. This problem particularly affects the agricultural sector, our students' field of study, and is a catalyst for numerous impacts on health, biodiversity and the environment.  

It was this, and more specifically that of olive oil production, that 9 students in the 4ᵉ year i-SAFE (agricultural engineer in international course, 100% in English) focused on. Involved in the Farming for the Future and Sustainable Management and International Trade career paths (4ᵉ and 5ᵉ year specializations), they set up a project as part of a study project. This was an opportunity to put the skills acquired during their training into practice in the field and internationally. 

Their entire study trip was designed for, and with, No Water No Us, an association dedicated to raising awareness and taking action against the global water crisis. Their team works in three main areas: wastewater, drinking water and biodiversity. So, by collaborating with this organization to support their project, our students were able to explore the many aspects of water stress in Algeria from a variety of angles: conferences, meetings with experts and locals, visits and actions in the field. For Mikail, a student in the Farming for the Future program, “water is an essential resource, so I felt that as a young student it was essential to get involved. The exchanges, the transmission of knowledge and the sharing of experiences have been precious resources”. It's a view shared by their mentor Malek Semar, for whom “seeing the students having so much fun, through a vital issue for humanity, has been the greatest reward”.
 

The feeling after 10 days in Algeria was just as strong among our students. Highly motivated, they exchanged ideas with the local Chamber of Agriculture and the Programme d'Appui au Secteur Agricole en Algérie (PASA), via the Institut Technique de l'Arboriculture Fruitière et de la Vigne en Algérie (ITAFV). They were also able to work on the subject of irrigation and waste management on an olive oil production farm. A busy program, but one that paid off!  

Student João Victor tells us: “I was looking to discover a new country, a new culture and new people, and thanks to this project, I've seen this vision take shape”. Indeed, it wasn't just water issues that our students discovered over the course of these few days. Through visits to Lake Akfadou and the cities of Algiers, Oran, Maghnia and Tlemcen, not forgetting the magnificent coastline of Béjaïa, the group, representing seven different nationalities, took the opportunity to immerse themselves in the richness of Algerian culture. With their heads full of memories and new keys to action, they returned to Rouen to continue their training!

Students at the Rouen campus are offered three career paths (specializations within the agricultural engineering curriculum): Farming for the Future, Sustainable Management and International Trade, and Biosourcing, Biotechnologies and the Environment.  

In addition to their choice of major (their main specialization), the minors common to all three courses enrich their knowledge and skills. For example, the study trip to Algeria required preparation from start to finish. The students were responsible for finding a host organization in need of their skills, organizing logistics and financing their project. An opportunity for them to “get out of their comfort zone and go above and beyond for an important cause”, says Mikail. Other minors link theory to laboratory practice, such as the one on innovative packaging. A few are focused on international openness, such as “Mediteranean Agriculture”, which enabled students to explore their subject in detail in Spain.