The National Forum on Decarbonizing Food Industries, held in Rabat on Monday, represents a critical milestone in Morocco’s push toward a low-carbon economy. Organized by the National Federation of Agri-Food Industries (FENAGRI), the event brought together key stakeholders from public institutions, private enterprises, financial bodies, and technical experts to chart a sustainable future for the country’s vital agri-food sector.

The initiative, supported by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, comes at a time when rising energy costs, water scarcity, and stricter international market demands are reshaping the industrial landscape. The food industry, a cornerstone of Morocco’s economy, plays a pivotal role in both domestic supply and export performance.

Economic impact and energy challenges

The sector generates an annual turnover of nearly 191 billion Moroccan dirhams, employs over 206,000 people directly, and accounts for 44 billion dirhams in exports. It also meets 77% of the country’s processed food needs. However, its energy consumption—equivalent to roughly 380,000 tonnes of oil annually—accounts for nearly 20% of the nation’s total industrial energy use, highlighting the urgency of decarbonization.

Roadmap to 2040

In collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, FENAGRI has launched a national study to develop a comprehensive decarbonization roadmap for the food industry by 2040. The initiative aims to pinpoint major emission sources, evaluate reduction strategies, and define actionable transition pathways tailored to each subsector.

The forum provided a platform to present preliminary findings and foster structured dialogue among participants. A shared consensus emerged: decarbonization is not merely a regulatory or environmental obligation but a strategic lever for boosting competitiveness, modernizing infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and securing market access.

Uniting forces for a sustainable future

Speaking at the event, FENAGRI President Abdelmounim El Eulj emphasized the immediacy of the challenge: “Decarbonizing food industries is no longer a distant goal—it’s an urgent priority. It directly impacts our businesses’ competitiveness, energy performance, market access, investment capacity, and resilience against evolving climate and economic pressures.”

The discussions underscored the need for coordinated action among government agencies, industrial leaders, financial institutions, technical experts, and international partners. Success hinges on developing tailored support mechanisms, expanding access to green financing, and strengthening technical expertise—particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of Morocco’s industrial fabric.

Next steps and inclusive transition

FENAGRI has pledged to continue this momentum, with plans to establish a monitoring framework for the roadmap, host subsector-specific workshops, and deepen engagement with financial and technical partners. The federation will also assist member companies in designing and implementing their own decarbonization strategies.

The overarching goal is to ensure a smooth, inclusive, and sustainable transition that aligns industrial, energy, environmental, and water policies while empowering businesses to thrive in a low-carbon economy.