I'm an agro-ecologist and Project Coordinator at ICARDA (Program for "Biodiversity and Crop Improvement"), specializing in pollinator conservation and agroecological approaches to farming. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Mons (Belgium), focused on the "Farming with Alternative Pollinators" (FAP) approach across different field scales in Morocco. His work combines agronomy, ecology, and entomology to conserve pollinator diversity, strengthen climate change resilience, and improve smallholder farmers' livelihoods.
Recent relevant publications: Bencharki, Y. et al. 2025. Insects' and Farmers' Responses to Pollinator-Related Habitat Improvement in Small and Large Faba Bean Fields in Morocco. Insects. Bencharki, Y., Michez, D., Ghisbain, G. et al. 2025. Weed Management Reduces Wild Bee Diversity in Cherry Orchards of the Moroccan Middle Atlas. Diversity. Bencharki, Y. et al. 2025. Beyond biodiversity: does "Farming with Alternative Pollinators" also boost farmers' income in wheat fields? A case study in Morocco. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution.
Ongoing projects: Project Coordinator (Sept. 2026–present) — Enhancing pollinator-dependent crop productivity and smallholder livelihood resilience in Morocco (CGIAR, $100,000) Project Co-coordinator (Feb. 2026–present) — Enhancing beekeeping and pollination industry research and partnerships in Morocco and Ghana (ACIAR, Aus
Ecology
My research over the past several years has centered on pollinator conservation and agroecological approaches to farming, particularly through the "Farming with Alternative Pollinators" (FAP) methodology, which I have applied across diverse agroecosystems in Morocco. While my work to date has focused primarily on agricultural landscapes, I am increasingly interested in extending this expertise to urban biodiversity conservation, an area where pollinator decline poses similar risks, but which is comparatively understudied in North Africa and the wider Mediterranean/Biodiversa+ region.
biodiversity conservation, pollinators, natural enemies, farming with alternative pollinators, bees.