Morocco’s Phosphate Reserves Key to Global Food Security, World Bank Says

"Fertilizers are responsible for about 50% of our global food production," says Chakib Jenane of the World Bank to BFMTV. Fertilizer production depends on phosphate. Particular emphasis has been placed on the crucial importance of the supply chain of this mineral - of which the Moroccan soil contains 70% of the world’s reserves - which can guarantee food security at the latest annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which took place in Marrakech from October 9 to 15.

"Africa holds the key to ensuring global food security," says Ilias El Fali, director of operations for the Moroccan giant OCP, the world’s largest fertilizer producer. So far, Africa uses only a tenth of global fertilizers. And its average agricultural yields represent a quarter of the world average. The supply of organic or chemical fertilizers will help maintain food production in line with population growth in Africa. The other advantage is that the continent has 60% of the world’s arable land.

Moroccan phosphate and derivative export earnings have increased sharply, reaching 7.89 billion dirhams (MMDH) at the end of August 2022, an increase of 67.7% compared to a year earlier. This increase is explained by the 23.49 MMDH increase in sales of natural and chemical fertilizers, due to the price effect which more than doubled following the sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus in response to the invasion of Ukraine.