Abdelhaq Hanafi worked as Researcher and Professor for over 29 years at Morocco's premier agricultural research institution, the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II, and was based at the horticultural Complex in Agadir within the main horticultural area of Morocco. There he has conducted pioneer work in biological control of insect and mite pests of greenhouse crops in the Agadir Valley. This work was credited with the registration of beneficial insects (Bumble bees and Natural Enemies) for use in organic as well as conventional farms. His pioneer work in IPM has contributed significantly to reducing pesticide use in greenhouse Crops and has prepared the ground for the implementation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) starting in 2006 in Morocco. Since June 2010, Abdelhaq Hanafi was appointed as FAO Chief Technical Adviser in Riyadh; Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he continues his efforts in further implementation of Biological Control in Greenhouse Crops.
Abdelhaq Hanafi has joined IOBC/WPRS in 1997 and was the Local Organizer of two major IOBC events in Morocco: The International Symposium on Integrated Production and Protection of horticultural crops (Agadir, Morocco, 6-9 May 1997 with some 350 participants from 28 countries) and the International Symposium on Integrated Control in Greenhouse Crops 30 November-5 December 2003 (with some 180 participants from 19 countries). In addition; he organized 3 other major conferences in Agadir Morocco: Organic Agriculture in the Mediterranean Region (Agadir, 7-10 October 2001); The African Potato Association Congress (5-9 April 2004) and the ISHS International Symposium Protected Cultivation on “Advances in Soil and Soilless Cultivation under Protected Environment” (February 19-24, 2006).
Since 2009, Abdelhaq Hanafi was elected as Council Member for the period 2009-2013, of the IOBC/WPRS where he acts as Liaison Officer for the Working Group on Integrated Control in Greenhouse Crops: Mediterranean Climate and the Working Group on Integrated Control of Citrus Crops.
