Rabat hosts landmark forum on decarbonizing Morocco’s food industry

The National Forum on Decarbonizing Food Industries, held in Rabat, has set a new course for Morocco’s industrial future. Organized by the National Federation of Agri-Food (FENAGRI), the event brought together key stakeholders to chart a sustainable path forward for one of the country’s most vital economic sectors.

The forum, supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, served as a pivotal platform for collaboration between public institutions, private enterprises, financial bodies, technical experts, and industry representatives. Together, they addressed the urgent need for sustainable transformation in Morocco’s food industry, driven by rising energy costs, water scarcity, international market demands, and evolving climate standards.

The food industry plays a central role in Morocco’s economy. With an annual turnover of nearly 191 billion Moroccan dirhams, the sector comprises around 2,600 companies spread across the country. It employs over 206,000 people, contributes 44 billion dirhams in exports, and meets 77% of national demand for processed food products.

Yet this economic strength comes with a significant environmental footprint. The sector consumes approximately 380,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually—nearly 20% of the country’s total industrial energy use. This underscores both the sector’s importance and the necessity of a structured, gradual decarbonization strategy tailored to the diverse needs of its sub-sectors.

Mapping a sustainable future for Morocco’s food industry

In partnership with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, FENAGRI has launched a national study to develop a decarbonization roadmap for the food industry by 2040. The initiative aims to pinpoint major emission sources, evaluate reduction levers, define feasible transition pathways, and outline operational implementation conditions.

The forum provided a platform to share key insights from this study and foster structured dialogue across the ecosystem. A strong consensus emerged: decarbonization is not just a regulatory or environmental obligation—it is a strategic lever for competitiveness, industrial modernization, energy efficiency, market access, and business resilience.

“Decarbonizing the food industry is no longer a distant goal—it is an immediate priority. It directly impacts our companies’ competitiveness, energy performance, market access, investment capacity, and resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges,” emphasized Abdelmounim El Eulj, President of FENAGRI.

Uniting forces for inclusive and practical decarbonization

The discussions highlighted the need for coordinated action among government agencies, industry leaders, financial institutions, international partners, technical experts, and professional federations. Success will depend on building tailored support mechanisms, improving access to green financing, enhancing technical expertise within companies, and promoting an integrated approach that aligns industrial, energy, environmental, and water policies.

Special emphasis was placed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Morocco’s productive fabric. Supporting these businesses is essential to ensure an inclusive, progressive, and operational transition.

Key priorities include accessible solutions, tailored diagnostics, bankable projects, and financing tools that respond to the realities of each food sub-sector.

Next steps: from dialogue to action

Following the forum, FENAGRI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining this momentum. Future steps will include establishing a monitoring framework for the decarbonization roadmap, hosting sector-specific workshops, strengthening partnerships with financial and technical stakeholders, and supporting member companies in developing and executing their own decarbonization strategies.

By Boureima Amadou — Reporter