Big agricultural projects have been launched in Algeria's arid south, home to huge quantities of groundwater held in rock. Exploiting that to feed the region would be an economic boon.

The land between the Euphrates and Tigris yields oil, water, and wheat, to name but three, yet it has had no infrastructure investment for decades. As a result, it is unproductive. That could change.

Vast stretches of farmland are either burned or toxic due to Israel's shelling, with damage to date estimated at $2.5bn, but high levels of a banned substance are by far the most chilling.

The production and export of food are economically important for both Morocco and its customers, both in Europe and Africa. Yet not everyone is pleased, as France's president found out this week.