Rabat witnessed a landmark gathering on Monday as the National Federation of Agri-Food Industries (FENAGRI) convened the National Decarbonization Forum for Food Industries, marking a decisive step toward shaping a low-carbon future for one of Morocco’s most vital economic sectors.

The event, held under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, brought together key stakeholders from public institutions, private enterprises, financial bodies, technical experts, and industry associations. Together, they explored pathways to sustainability in Morocco’s food processing sector amid rising energy costs, tightening water resources, evolving international market demands, and the gradual integration of climate criteria into global supply chains.

The food industry plays an indispensable role in Morocco’s economy, generating an annual turnover of nearly 191 billion Moroccan dirhams. The sector comprises around 2,600 businesses spread across the country, employs over 206,000 people directly, contributes 44 billion dirhams to exports, and meets approximately 77% of the nation’s processed food needs. However, its energy footprint is equally significant, consuming roughly 380,000 tons of oil equivalent annually—nearly 20% of the country’s total industrial energy use. These figures underscore both the sector’s economic weight and the urgency of implementing a well-structured decarbonization strategy.

Charting a sustainable future with a national roadmap

In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, FENAGRI has launched a comprehensive national study to develop a decarbonization roadmap for the food industry by 2040. The initiative aims to identify primary emission sources, evaluate reduction levers, map feasible transition trajectories, and establish practical implementation conditions. The forum served as a platform to share preliminary findings and foster a structured dialogue among all ecosystem players.

“Decarbonizing Morocco’s food industry is no longer a distant goal—it is an immediate priority. This transition directly impacts the competitiveness, energy efficiency, market access, investment capacity, and climate resilience of our businesses,” stated Abdelmounim El Eulj, President of FENAGRI, during the event. The discussions emphasized that decarbonization should not be viewed solely as a regulatory or environmental obligation, but as a strategic lever for economic modernization and long-term competitiveness.

Uniting forces for inclusive and effective transition

The success of this transformation hinges on coordinated action among government agencies, industrial leaders, financial institutions, international partners, technical experts, and professional federations. Critical to this effort will be the creation of tailored support mechanisms, improved access to green financing, enhanced technical expertise within companies, and a cohesive policy framework that harmonizes industrial, energy, environmental, and water strategies.

A special focus was placed on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Morocco’s industrial fabric. Ensuring their inclusion in the transition will be essential to achieving an inclusive, gradual, and operationally effective decarbonization process. Industry leaders highlighted the need for accessible solutions, customized diagnostics, bankable projects, and financing instruments designed to meet the diverse realities of food subsectors.

Following the forum, FENAGRI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining this momentum. Upcoming initiatives include establishing a monitoring framework for the decarbonization roadmap, organizing sector-specific workshops, strengthening partnerships with financial and technical stakeholders, and supporting member companies in defining and executing their own decarbonization strategies.