Morocco’s Phosphate Key to Brazil’s Agricultural Expansion Plans

"Morocco/Brazil: agro-industry connects the continents". This was the theme of the webinar organized last Wednesday. The participants stressed the importance of Moroccan phosphate for Brazil in order to boost its production. Trade between the two countries must be further raised to the level of the strategies already in place to take new steps in terms of sustainable development and quality of their respective agricultural sectors. Also during this seminar, the executive director of OCP Brazil, Olavio Takaneka, affirmed that Brazil has several assets that bode well for even more sustained development of its agriculture.

Nevertheless, Brazil presents a certain deficiency in phosphates and organic matter. This is the case in the state of Mato Grosso. Thus, the country remains dependent on fertilizer imports. Although Brazil already imports 60% of its phosphate needs, 90% in potassium and 70% in nitrogen, it needs even more fertilizers as it should record a 40% agricultural growth by 2050 to meet the needs of a world population of 10 billion people. Only Morocco, a supplier for more than 30 years, would be able to meet this requirement.

The OCP representative reviewed the main development projects carried out by the company. Among these projects is a strategic decision made in 2010 to set up a subsidiary abroad, noting that the Moroccan company has created a dozen branches in the Brazilian agricultural regions, which will soon increase to 15 subsidiaries. Similarly, OCP is in partnership with universities and research institutions to certify new products adapted to Brazilian crops.

For his part, the researcher at the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Alexandre Morais do Amaral, affirms that Brazilian agriculture offers several partnership opportunities. Over the past 50 years, agricultural land has increased by 33%, double cropping areas by +340%, production by 386%, and the yield of the main crop by 266%. Agriculture is a priority sector for Morocco. The country has made great efforts to develop this economic sector and reduce its dependence on rain, adds the agricultural attaché of Brazil in Morocco.

During the webinar moderated by the president of the Arab-Brazilian Chamber Rubens Hannun, the main topics were strategic markets, the exchange of know-how and the diversification of trade flows. This webinar was marked by the participation of the Moroccan ambassador to Brazil Nabil Adghoghi, the Brazilian ambassador to Morocco Julio Glinternick Bitelli and the general director of the foreign market of the Brazilian Association of the machinery and equipment industry (ABIMAQ) Patrícia Gomes, notes Map Ecology.