International Day of Argania

Follow the step-by-step process of how argan oil is made. 1. Collecting -picture of women collecting fruits under an argan tree 2. Drying - picture of dried fruits 3. Pulping the nut to get the kernel - picture of nuts, kernels and seeds that look like almonds 4. Crush the kernel to get its precious almond - picture of a woman crushing the kernel with a small hammer on a big stone while seated on the floor, and obtaining a seed 5. Roasting almonds if it is intended to be used as edible oil - picture of a woman toasting seeds in form of almonds in a big pan. 6. Grinding the almond by using a hand mill to form an oily dough - picture of a woman pressing the seeds with a hand mill on the floor and a dense liquid running around it. 7. Kneading the dough and mixing with water for hours - picture of a woman kneading a mix of dough and water. 8. Draining the oil from the mixture - picture of 2 women filtering the oil to a plastic bottle 9. Storing till layers are created and purifying the liq...

  Your Excellency, Mohamed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forests of the Kingdom of Morocco, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, My best wishes to you all on International Day of Argania – proclaimed by the General Assembly in 2021, at the initiative by the Kingdom of Morocco – recognizing the important role of the Argan tree in achieving sustainable development. Indeed, the ancient Argan tree – endemic to the Kingdom of Morocco – is a unique backbone to the ecosystem. Its world-renowned oil and derivatives are not only an important source of income and sustenance for local communities. The products are promoted by rural cooperatives of women – who have passed on the tradition, over generations for centuries. These cooperatives are a central strand in the socioeconomic tapestry of Argania – empowering women entrepreneurs, preserving distinctive sustainable practices; and working in concert with civil society, scientists and local p...

The argan tree (Argania spinosa) is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas. It’s the defining species of a woodland ecosystem, also known as Arganeraie, which is rich in endemic flora. It is resilient to a harsh environment under water scarcity, risk of erosion and poor soils. This ecosystem of extraordinary beauty is not only important in terms of conservation, but also for research and socio-economic development, due to its forestry, agricultural and livestock use. The argan tree woodlands provide forest products, fruits and fodder. The leaves and the fruits are edible and highly appreciated, as is the undergrowth, and constitute a vital fodder reserve for all herds, even in periods of drought. The trees are also used as fuelwood for cooking and heating. The world-renowned argan oil is extracted from the seeds and has multiple applications, especially in traditional and complementary medicine an...

The argan tree is typically a multipurpose tree that supports income generation, increases resilience and improves climate adaptation, playing a very important role in achieving the three dimensions of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental - at the local level. The sustainable argan production sector contributes to the economic empowerment and financial inclusion of local communities, especially women living in rural areas. Cooperatives are instrumental in promoting local job opportunities and can play an important role in contributing to food security and in eradicating poverty. For centuries, the argan tree has been a mainstay of the Berber and Arab-origin indigenous rural communities , which developed a specific culture and identity, sharing their traditional knowledge and skills through non-formal education, particularly the unique knowledge associated with the traditional production of argan oil by women. The unique argan-based agro-forestry-pastoral syste...

Globally, an estimated 3.5 to 5.8 billion people, use wild plants, and one billion depend on wild foods for their livelihoods and food security. Among them, the argan , of course. However, as with all our natural resources, we need to keep an eye on sustainability. That is the purpose of the report  Wild Check: Assessing risks and opportunities of trade in wild plant ingredients : understanding the responsible sourcing of wild-harvested plants, including the argan. Argan, one of the five wild plants hidden in our everyday lives

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed May 10th as International Day of Argania in 2021, The resolution A/RES/75/262 , submitted by Morocco, was co-sponsored by 113 member states of the United Nations and adopted by consensus. RESOLUTION 75/262. International Day of Argania.  The General Assembly,  Reaffirming its resolution 70/1 of 25 September 2015, entitled “ Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ”, in which it adopted a comprehensive, far-reaching and people-centred set of universal and transformative Sustainable Development Goals and targets, its commitment to working tirelessly for the full implementation of the Agenda by 2030, its recognition that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, its commitment to achieving sustainable development in its three dimensions – economic, social and environmen...