The global market for oilseeds: prospects and challenges for Morocco

• Main Author: Gosselet Nathalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2014-03-01
• Series: Oilseeds and fats, crops and lipids
• Subjects: Morocco; oilseed production; food security; trade balance
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/ocl/2013052

The global market for oilseeds, grains, vegetable oil and oilseed meal is a complex market which is growing at a very fast pace, and which is characterized by the large volume of production which is traded between countries. Offer is geographically constrained in this market: there are few exporting countries and these are mainly situated on the American continent. Demand on the other hand is more widespread, although highest in Asiatic countries, China in particular. As a result, small importing countries, like Morocco, are in a vulnerable position, and take the full brunt of price volatility. In the 90s, Moroccan oilseed production was relatively high, unfortunately production dropped over the years, and Morocco must now buy vegetable oil and proteins on the global market. Reviving oilseed production in Morocco would considerably help the country and provide numerous benefits, such as food security, improving the country’s trade balance, and enhancing the agronomic management of land thanks to the introduction of break crops. Finally, it would also boost the entire agricultural sector and help increase the income of farmers.