Rabat hosts national forum to drive decarbonization in Morocco’s food industry

Rabat witnessed a pivotal gathering on Monday as the National Federation of the Agri-Food Industry (FENAGRI) convened a landmark forum to accelerate the decarbonization of Morocco’s food processing sector.

Under the joint patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the event brought together key stakeholders from public institutions, private enterprises, financial bodies, technical experts, and industry leaders. The initiative underscores a growing commitment to aligning Morocco’s food industry with global climate standards while addressing pressing challenges such as rising energy costs, water scarcity, and evolving international market demands.

With an annual turnover exceeding 191 billion Moroccan dirhams, the food processing industry is a cornerstone of the national economy. The sector comprises around 2,600 businesses operating nationwide, employs over 206,000 people, and contributes 44 billion dirhams to exports while meeting 77% of domestic demand for processed food products.

However, its energy footprint is equally significant, consuming approximately 380,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually—nearly 20% of the country’s industrial energy use. These figures highlight both the sector’s economic importance and the urgency of implementing a structured, phased decarbonization strategy tailored to its diverse sub-sectors.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, FENAGRI has launched a national study to develop a 2040 decarbonization roadmap. The goal is to pinpoint major emission sources, assess reduction levers, define transition pathways, and outline practical implementation conditions. The forum served as a platform to present preliminary findings and foster a collaborative dialogue among all ecosystem players.

Discussions revealed a shared conviction: decarbonization should not be viewed solely as a regulatory or environmental obligation but as a strategic opportunity to enhance competitiveness, modernize industrial processes, improve energy efficiency, expand market access, and bolster resilience for Moroccan businesses.

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

Participants emphasized the critical need for coordinated action among government agencies, industry players, financial institutions, international partners, technical experts, and professional federations. Success hinges on creating tailored support mechanisms, improving access to green financing, strengthening technical expertise within enterprises, and fostering an integrated approach that harmonizes industrial, energy, environmental, and water policies.

A special focus was placed on supporting small and medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Morocco’s productive fabric. Their inclusion in this transition is vital to ensuring an inclusive, gradual, and operationally effective decarbonization process.

The forum also highlighted the demand for accessible solutions, tailored diagnostics, bankable projects, and financing mechanisms that align with the realities of each food sub-sector.

Following the event, FENAGRI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining momentum. Upcoming steps include establishing a monitoring framework for the decarbonization roadmap, hosting sector-specific workshops, deepening collaboration with financial and technical partners, and guiding member companies in developing and executing their own transition strategies.