Drought-Resistant Argan Trees: French Winegrowers Test Moroccan Import to Combat Climate Change

The choice of the argan tree, endemic to Morocco, is not insignificant. It is specifically studied for its remarkable resistance to drought, a major asset in the tense water context of the Pyrénées-Orientales. "It’s a plant that needs about 250 millimeters of water per year," confirms Vincent Connes, one of the winegrowers involved. He is betting on the qualities of this tree: "It’s a plant that is very resistant to drought and which, we hope, will produce," he tells France 3.

However, this crop diversification is not limited to the argan tree. The collective is conducting parallel trials with other plants adapted to arid environments, such as pepper, tea tree, aloe vera, and prickly pear. The logic behind these tests is proactive adaptation to the climate, as Vincent Connes explains: "We assume that we will adapt to the climate and not the other way around. So, we looked at what was being done around the Mediterranean or other places on the planet that were in the same semi-arid conditions and we will model ourselves on what is happening there."

The first stages of the argan tree experiment show positive preliminary results. David Tofinos, also a member of the collective, reports that seeds sown two years ago have not only germinated, but the young plants have also survived frost and seem to be adapting well to the local soil. This desire to innovate addresses a dual problem, climatic and economic, as Philippe Morat emphasizes: "We needed to continue to question ourselves and find solutions to the problems that climate and economy pose to us."

The horizon for a potential first harvest of the fruits of these pioneer argan trees is set at about five years, provided that their acclimatization continues successfully. For committed farmers like David Tofinos, who states "The argan tree is the future, we have to make a choice and I believe in it!", this step will be decisive for the future of these new crops in the agricultural landscape of Roussillon.