Several annual oilseed species have been grown in Morocco: sunflower, rapeseed, groundnut, soybean, sesame and safflower. Their cultivation area has continued to decline since the 1990s following several factors, in particular the abolition of guaranteed minimum price and liberalization of the sector.
What crops are grown in Morocco?
The main oilseed crop grown in Morocco are sunflower, rapeseed, and groundnut intended more for direct consumption than for the production of oil. Their cultivation area represents currently less than 1% of the country’s total useful agricultural surface and their production covers less than 2% of the country’s vegetable oil needs.
Which countries eat edible oil?
World consumption of this oil is estimated at 3.125million tons and the main consumers are EU, United States, Turkey, Morocco and Brazil ( IOC, 2022 ). World major sources of edible oils in 2020/2021 (data from USDA, 2022 ).
Should Morocco develop a local oilseed sector?
Considering their increasingly important role in society, the development of a local oilseed sector to reduce Morocco’s dependence on imports and cope with the vagaries of global markets has never been more topical in the current context of sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty.