Data Module 070 — Agricultural & Economic Intelligence
The Argan
Triangle
The only place on earth argan trees grow. Twenty million trees across 830,000 hectares of UNESCO-protected biosphere, from Essaouira to Agadir to the Anti-Atlas. The women-led economy of Morocco’s liquid gold.
Trees conserving energy. Deep roots drawing moisture from aquifers. Goats kept out of groves by wardens.
001 — The Process
From Fruit to Oil
Harvest
Crack
Press
Oil
~8 kg fruit per tree per year. Fruit falls in July — black and dry. Rights controlled by village law.
002 — The Biosphere
Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve
~2.5 million hectares designated by UNESCO in 1998. Morocco’s first Biosphere Reserve. Pulsing markers show production zones across the southern High Atlas and Anti-Atlas.
003 — The Tree
Argania spinosa
Tashelhit name: argan (ⴰⵔⴳⴰⵏ). A thorny, gnarled tree native to the semi-arid Souss Valley, the Chiadma and Haha regions, and the Anti-Atlas foothills. Grows 8–10 metres high. Crown circumference up to 70 metres. Lives approximately 200 years. Deep roots reach 30 metres into underground aquifers.
Each tree produces ~8 kg of fruit per year. The fruit is olive-shaped, bitter, containing 1–3 oil-rich kernels. Forty kilograms of dried fruit produces just one litre of oil. Attempts to cultivate argan in the US, Israel, and Mexico have largely failed.
Morocco’s second-largest forest resource after holm oak. A bastion against desertification: stabilises soil, shelters wildlife, prevents Saharan expansion. Goats famously climb argan trees to feed on fruit — their droppings leave shells intact while returning nutrients to the forest floor.
The argan tree is a true bastion against desertification. It can reach 10 metres in height and live for 200 years.
— United Nations, International Day of Argania
004 — What Argan Becomes
The Products
Cosmetic argan oil
Cold-pressed from unroasted kernels. Rich in vitamin E, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, ferulic acid, triterpenoids. Anti-aging, moisturising, hair repair. ~66% of market (cosmetic grade dominated 2024). L'Oréal, The Body Shop, Josie Maran source from cooperatives.
Culinary argan oil
Pressed from roasted kernels — distinctive nutty flavour. Used in salads, couscous, tagines, drizzled on bread. Darker colour than cosmetic grade. Shelf life 3–6 months (traditional) to 12–18 months (dry-pressed).
Amlou
Traditional Amazigh spread: argan oil + ground almonds + honey. Breakfast staple in Souss region. Morocco's answer to peanut butter. Tourist cooperative staple.
Pharmaceutical argan oil
Anti-inflammatory compounds. Research into cardiovascular health, cholesterol reduction, diabetes, cancer prevention. Traditional medicine: skin conditions, wound healing.
Press cake (byproduct)
Protein-rich residue after oil extraction. Animal feed, cosmetic uses. Research into bioplastics, sudan dyes, biochar. Shells used as firewood alternative in hammams.
005 — The Women’s Economy
Cooperatives
Rural Amazigh women lead the entire extraction process through knowledge transmitted across generations. Cooperatives provide fair wages, literacy training, healthcare access, and community reinvestment. But industrial-scale extraction and multinational sourcing are pushing artisanal producers to the margins.
0
Cooperatives
0
Women-led
0+
Workers
0+
People supported
1,014 — Cooperatives
Across the Argan Biosphere Reserve. 688 are women's cooperatives.
13,774+ — Workers employed
Predominantly Amazigh (Berber) women. Traditional skills passed through generations.
22 — UCFA member cooperatives
Union des Coopératives des Femmes de l'Arganeraie — largest union, EU co-sponsored.
~300 — Small firms near Essaouira
25 km inland from the coast. Mostly cooperatives. Traditional hand-extraction.
80 MAD → 12 MAD/kg — Fruit price collapse (2020–22)
Argan fruit (affiyache) price surged from 2 to 12 dirhams/kg post-Covid. Squeezed cooperative margins.
$22/litre — Mechanical oil price
Less than half the cooperative price. Industrial scale driving down prices, threatening artisanal producers.
Everyone wants their share of the value chain and there is less and less room for women.
— Jamila Idbourous, President, Union of Women’s Cooperatives (The Ecologist, 2025)
006 — Global Recognition
Five Designations
UNESCO
Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve
Morocco's first Biosphere Reserve. ~2.5 million hectares. Covers 8 provinces: Agadir Ida Outanane, Inezgane-Ait Melloul, Chtouka Ait Baha, Taroudant, Tiznit, Sidi Ifni, Guelmim, Essaouira.
Morocco
ANDZOA founded
Agence Nationale pour le Développement des Zones Oasiennes et de l'Arganier. Government conservation and development agency.
UNESCO
Intangible Cultural Heritage
"Argan, practices and know-how concerning the argan tree" inscribed on Representative List.
FAO
Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System
Argan-based agro-sylvo-pastoral system, Ait Souab–Ait Mansour area.
United Nations
International Day of the Argan Tree (May 10)
Resolution proposed by Morocco, co-sponsored by 113 member states, adopted by consensus.
007 — Key Numbers
The Data
40 kg
Fruit per litre of oil
40 kg dried argan fruit produces just 1 litre of oil. One tree yields ~8 kg fruit/year — 5 trees per litre.
200
Years — tree lifespan
Roots reach 30 metres deep. Withstands 50°C. Grows on poor soils. Thorny, gnarled trunks. Crown circumference up to 70m.
50%
Forest lost in 100 years
Density dropped from 100 to 30 trees/hectare. Charcoal, overgrazing, urbanisation, drought.
1:1
Cosmetic-to-culinary split
Cosmetics & personal care: ~66% of market. Culinary: growing segment. Pharmaceuticals emerging.
688
Women's cooperatives
Of 1,014 total. Women lead the entire extraction process. Fair wages, literacy training, community reinvestment.
May 10
International Argan Day
UN resolution 2021. Proposed by Morocco. 113 co-sponsors. The only UN day for a single tree.
Sources
United Nations — International Day of Argania: 2021 resolution, 113 co-sponsors, tree biology
UNESCO — Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve (1998): ~2.5M hectares, 8 provinces
UNESCO — Intangible Cultural Heritage (2014): Argan practices inscribed
FAO — GIAHS (2018): Argan agro-sylvo-pastoral system, Ait Souab–Ait Mansour
Wikipedia — Argan oil: 40 kg/litre, UCFA 22 cooperatives, ~300 firms Essaouira
Wikipedia — Sideroxylon spinosum: 8,280 km², 50% loss, Tashelhit vocabulary
Morocco World News: 20M trees, roots 30m, crown 70m, ANDZOA 2010
The Ecologist (Nov 2025): Idbourous quote, cooperative margins, Covid price surge
Springer Human Ecology (2023): UCFA/FIFARGANE/FNFARGNANE unions, 8 provinces
Market.us / IMARC / Persistence: Global market $370M (2024), CAGR 9–12%
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This visualization may not be reproduced without visible attribution.
Sources: UNESCO, HCEFLCD Morocco