Rabat hosted a pivotal national forum this week, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, and financial partners to map out a decisive shift toward low-carbon operations in Morocco’s vital food manufacturing sector.
Convened by the National Federation of Agri-Food (FENAGRI) under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the gathering served as a launchpad for a comprehensive decarbonization strategy aimed at reshaping one of the country’s most energy-intensive industries.
The timing of the forum reflects mounting pressures: soaring energy costs, tightening water constraints, shifting international buyer expectations, and the growing integration of climate benchmarks into global supply chains. These challenges underscore the urgency of embedding sustainability into Morocco’s food production systems.
With an annual turnover nearing 191 billion Moroccan dirhams, the food manufacturing sector underpins the national economy. It comprises roughly 2,600 businesses nationwide, supports over 206,000 direct jobs, contributes 44 billion dirhams in exports, and supplies nearly 77% of domestically consumed processed foods. Yet its energy footprint is equally significant—consuming approximately 380,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually, which represents nearly 20% of Morocco’s total industrial energy use. These figures highlight both the sector’s economic weight and the scale of its environmental impact.
To address this, FENAGRI—with support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade—has launched a nationwide study to design a decarbonization roadmap extending to 2040. The initiative aims to pinpoint major emission sources, evaluate reduction levers, outline viable transition pathways, and define practical implementation conditions.
The forum provided a platform to present early findings and foster structured dialogue across the ecosystem. Participants reached a shared conclusion: decarbonizing food manufacturing isn’t just a regulatory or environmental obligation—it’s a strategic lever for boosting competitiveness, driving industrial modernization, improving energy efficiency, accessing premium markets, and enhancing corporate resilience.
“Decarbonization is no longer a distant goal—it’s an immediate priority. It directly impacts our companies’ competitiveness, energy performance, market access, investment capacity, and resilience in the face of evolving climate and economic realities,” stated Abdelmounim El Eulj, President of FENAGRI, during the event.
The discussions emphasized the need for coordinated action among government agencies, industrial operators, financial institutions, international partners, technical experts, and trade associations. Success hinges on developing tailored support mechanisms, expanding access to green financing, strengthening technical expertise within companies, and fostering an integrated approach that aligns industrial, energy, environmental, and water policies.
A strong focus was placed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Morocco’s industrial fabric. Supporting these businesses will be essential to ensuring an inclusive, gradual, and operationally viable transition.
Key priorities identified include accessible diagnostics, bankable projects, and financing tools tailored to the realities of different food subsectors. Moving forward, FENAGRI plans to establish a monitoring framework for the decarbonization roadmap, host sector-specific workshops, deepen engagement with financial and technical partners, and guide member companies in crafting and executing their own transition strategies.