Rabat hosts pivotal forum to drive clean energy shift in Morocco’s food industry

Rabat witnessed a landmark gathering on Monday as industry leaders, policymakers, and financial stakeholders converged for the National Forum on Decarbonizing Food Industries. Organized by the National Federation of the Agri-Food Sector (FENAGRI), the event underscored the urgent need for a structured, long-term transition toward low-carbon operations in one of Morocco’s most vital economic pillars.

The forum, held under the joint patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, brought together key public, private, and technical players. Together, they explored strategies to align Morocco’s food production sector with global climate standards while addressing pressing challenges such as rising energy costs, water scarcity, and evolving international market demands.

The food industry holds unparalleled significance in Morocco’s economy. Generating an annual turnover of nearly 191 billion Moroccan dirhams, the sector supports over 2,600 businesses nationwide, employs more than 206,000 people directly, and contributes 44 billion dirhams to exports. It also meets 77% of domestic demand for processed food products. Yet, its environmental footprint remains substantial: food industries consume around 380,000 tonnes of oil equivalent annually—nearly 20% of the country’s total industrial energy use.

Mapping a 2040 decarbonization roadmap

In partnership 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. This initiative aims to map key emission sources, evaluate reduction levers, define viable transition pathways, and outline practical implementation conditions. The forum served as a platform to present preliminary findings and foster structured dialogue across the ecosystem.

Discussions highlighted a shared conviction: decarbonization is not merely a regulatory or environmental obligation—it is a strategic lever for economic competitiveness, industrial modernization, energy efficiency, market access, and long-term resilience. « The decarbonization of Morocco’s food industry is no longer a distant goal—it’s an immediate priority. It directly impacts the competitiveness, energy performance, market reach, investment capacity, and climate resilience of our enterprises, » emphasized Abdelmounim El Eulj, President of FENAGRI.

Building a unified transition strategy

Success hinges on coordinated action among government agencies, industry players, financial institutions, international partners, technical experts, and professional federations. Key priorities include developing tailored support mechanisms, expanding access to green financing, strengthening technical expertise within companies, and fostering integrated policies that harmonize industrial, energy, environmental, and water strategies.

Empowering small and medium-sized enterprises

A strong focus was placed on supporting small and medium-sized industrial enterprises (SMEs)—the backbone of Morocco’s productive fabric. Ensuring their inclusion in the transition is essential to achieving an inclusive, progressive, and operational decarbonization process. Participants stressed the need for accessible diagnostics, bankable projects, and financing solutions tailored to the realities of diverse food subsectors.

Next steps: From vision to action

FENAGRI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining momentum. Upcoming phases will include establishing a monitoring framework for the decarbonization roadmap, hosting sub-sector workshops, deepening engagement with financial and technical partners, and guiding member companies in designing and executing their own transition plans.