Morocco’s Economic, Social and Environmental Council reported that nearly 75% of the country’s local wheat and barley varieties have disappeared over the past five decades. The Council cited standardization of production methods, hybrid variety spread, and intensive agricultural exploitation as primary drivers of this loss. The decline threatens food security, national sovereignty, and biodiversity. Agricultural soil fertility has also worsened significantly, with organic matter content averaging just 1.3%, below the sustainability threshold.
Key Takeaways:
- 75% of Morocco’s native wheat and barley varieties lost in 50 years
- Standardization and hybrid seeds drive the biodiversity decline
- Soil organic matter averages 1.3%, threatening long-term fertility
Agricultural Biodiversity Crisis Deepens
The Council’s opinion, titled “Biodiversity in Morocco: Towards Renewed Governance in Support of Sustainable Territorial Development,” highlights the coexistence of two agricultural models. An export-oriented intensive model, generating over 85.8 billion dirhams in 2024 and using 70% to 80% imported hybrid seeds for vegetables, weakens ecological resilience. A family farming model rich in biodiversity remains underrecognized despite its role in preserving local seeds and resilient animal breeds.
Urban Expansion and Invasive Species Compound Losses
Real estate pressure has increased urban development’s land share from 51.4% in 1994 to 62.8% in 2024, reducing fertile farmland. Invasive alien species cause agricultural losses between 30% and 70%, reaching 90% in olive groves. The Council documented degradation of over 17,000 square kilometers of rangelands in the Oriental region, collapse of the prickly pear sector due to cochineal infestations, decline of beekeeping, and retreat of aromatic plants.
Organic Farming Growth Lags Behind Targets
Certified organic farming areas reached 13,300 hectares in 2025, nearly eight times the 2010 figure, but remain far from the 100,000-hectare target by 2030. The Council attributed slow progress to complex certification procedures, high costs, weak domestic demand, limited technical support, and small producer challenges. The 2022 Agrobiodiversity Index gave Morocco a score of 54.1 out of 100 overall, above the Mediterranean average of 51, but agricultural production scored only 41.6.
Expert Analysis: This report reveals a systemic failure to integrate agricultural biodiversity into public policies, explained Dr. Amina Essabir, a Moroccan agricultural economist. The loss of native varieties weakens long-term food sovereignty and ecological resilience. While organic farming shows growth, it remains insufficient to reverse the damage. Urgent governance reforms, including a national ecosystem map and red list of ecosystems, are needed to prioritize protection efforts.
