Morocco Ranks 2nd Globally in Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Diversity, Produces 140,000 Tons Annually

Per year, Morocco produces about 140,000 tons of these plants used in traditional medicine, cosmetics, food preservation, essential oil extraction and others, said Abdelkhalek Farhat, director of the National Agency for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ANPMA), in an interview with MAP. In exports, Morocco is ranked 12th globally, with 52,000 tons of plants and 5,000 tons of oils mainly destined for Europe and America. Rosemary, thyme, argan oil, essential oils and roses are among the main export products.

However, the sector faces several difficulties related to the enhancement and marketing, deplores the director of ANPMA, adding that due to a large part of the plants valued internationally due to the lack of mastery of production, processing and enhancement techniques, the kingdom loses significant added value. A situation exacerbated by climate change, heavy pressure on resources, as well as a lack of coordination of scientific research at the national level, all phenomena at the origin of the disappearance of several plant species.

Research programs on domestication, cultivation, preservation and sustainability of natural resources are being implemented to encourage scientific research and the development of the medicinal and aromatic plants sector. Based on Law 111-12 establishing the ANPMA, this strategy will make it possible to develop research themes that can meet the needs and interests of industrialists. It also plans to map and categorize medicinal and aromatic plants in Morocco, protect wild varieties, cultivate and improve other species, establish cooperation partnerships with other national and international actors, and many other objectives.