Olive Oil Morocco

Olive oil is an important food product in Morocco. The global market, too, is asking for more and more high-quality extra virgin olive oil from new sources such as Morocco. Due to its natural conditions and local varieties, Morocco has the potential to produce high-quality olive oil suitable for export.

But, like many other olive oil-producing countries, Morocco faces climate change challenges, especially drought and heat. To ensure the sector's resilience, producers need to adjust their production practices and process their resources more efficiently.

Together with the sector, CBI mapped these opportunities and challenges and highlighted the younger generation's potential to address today's challenges.

Project details

This project focuses on involving youth in the olive oil sector and dealing with climate change. The project started in 2024. Together with partners the project will work to: 

• Adjust production practices and efficient resource processes for a resilient and future-proof sector;
• Develop a growth strategy focused on economic and environmental opportunities, including youth;
• Support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in diversifying their markets;
• Strengthening SMEs' value chains so that they can grow and address various challenges;
• Develop decent employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in the olive oil sector.

This will help the sector become resilient and sustainable.

Project goals

In this project, CBI supports Moroccan SMEs in the olive oil sector with the aim to:

• Make the olive oil sector in the Fez-Meknès region future-proof;
• Develop a growth strategy focused on economic and environmental opportunities, including youth;
• Support SMEs in diversifying their markets;
• Develop decent employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth in the olive  oil sector.

This will help the sector become resilient and sustainable.

Project phase

The project started in 2023 with an inception phase. In this phase, we tested and adapted the project plan where needed. Based on what we learned, we decided how to move forward with the project and finalise the project plan design soon. Then, we will continue with the project's implementation phase. 

Activities

During the implementation phase, we aim to carry out the following activities:

• Involve project participants from the Moroccan Olive oil sector. We will target SMEs with an interest in:
  o    Sustainability;
  o    Exports; and 
  o    Youth inclusion.
• Work with schools, universities, and employers to improve the match between graduates and jobs, for example, through internships and traineeships.
• Work with the stakeholders to see how the sector can become more inclusive for young people. 
• We will work with young service providers and innovators to support the design of agri-tech solutions to make the sector future-proof and ready for diverse markets.

Project participants and partners

In the course of this project, CBI will involve the following stakeholders and partners:

• Olive oil producers (SMEs and large mills);
• Moroccan service providers, both public and private;
• Incubators/accelerators
• Olive oil sector associations;
• Public institutions relevant to the Olive oil  sector;
• Youth associations;
• Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) schools, universities and other relevant educational organisations;
• Non-profit associations and business support organisations relevant to the olive oil sector.

Get involved as a partner

Are you a partner interested in contributing to Morocco's transition to a sustainable and inclusive olive oil sector?

Or do you have an olive oil business in Morocco's Fez-Meknès region looking to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth? And do you want to improve your market presence in the EU?

Then, the Moroccan Olive oil project is of interest to you. Contact CBI  for more information on the project or to explore a potential collaboration.