For nearly a century, COSUMAR has played a fundamental role in Morocco’s food sovereignty. As a key player in the sugar sector, the group has successfully combined innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness to strengthen national food security and support farmers. The evolution of the company is now unfolding around several strategic axes, integrating climate and environmental challenges to ensure a more resilient and sustainable future for Moroccan agriculture.
Optimization of water resources: precision irrigation and desalination at the forefront
Water, an essential resource for agriculture, is at the heart of COSUMAR’s concerns. In the face of decreasing rainfall and increasing drought episodes, the group has implemented innovative solutions to optimally manage this vital resource. Precision irrigation, widely deployed, allows for a 25% reduction in water consumption compared to traditional methods. Thanks to smart sensors and weather radars, farms benefit from precise soil moisture management, ensuring water supplies are tailored to the actual needs of crops.
Desalination of seawater is another strategic response to the country’s water challenges. With its 3,500 km of coastline, Morocco has significant potential for this technology. Currently, the Kingdom has 16 operational stations, with development projects aimed at increasing the production capacity of desalinated water to 430 million cubic meters per year within a few years. By 2050, Morocco aims to reach 1.7 billion cubic meters, an ambitious goal that supports both drinking water needs and those of agriculture.
Agriculture 4.0: technology serving yields and the environment
The digital transformation of agriculture is a priority for COSUMAR. The group is investing heavily in Agriculture 4.0, integrating cutting-edge digital tools such as drones, artificial intelligence, and digital solutions to improve crop productivity. The use of drones, for example, allows for the analysis of up to 100 hectares per day, providing real-time mapping that enables better adjustment of agricultural treatments according to the specific needs of crops.
The selection of varieties more resistant to water stress and the implementation of sustainable agricultural practices, such as rational fertilization, are also key initiatives of COSUMAR. The “Smart Blender,” a precision fertilization tool, reduces the use of fertilizers and pesticides by 30%, contributing to both the profitability of farms and environmental preservation.
A strategy to support farmers and sustainable growth
COSUMAR places farmers at the heart of its strategy. In 2024, the group increased the purchase prices of sugar plants, thus providing a more stable income for producers, which has strengthened the attractiveness of the sugar sector. At the same time, the expansion of cultivated areas, which has increased by more than 50% compared to the previous year, reflects the growing confidence of farmers in this sector.
As part of the “Green Generation” strategy and the program contract signed with the State, COSUMAR aims to modernize the sugar sector by 2030. The goal is to increase cultivated areas to 73,000 hectares and achieve a production of 620,000 tons of white sugar. The group also plans to integrate renewable energies on 20% of the cultivated areas and develop 1,000 hectares of organic sugarcane, thus reinforcing its commitment to sustainable agriculture.
A resilient and high-performing economic model
COSUMAR manages to combine environmental sustainability, economic performance, and social inclusion. In 2024, the production cost of crops was reduced by 40% compared to 2008, thanks to the introduction of modern agricultural techniques and optimized resource management. The company also invested 500 million dirhams in agricultural inputs, thus enabling producers to benefit from direct support to improve their yields.
Through these efforts, COSUMAR consolidates its position as a leader in the international market while meeting the demands for sustainability and competitiveness. By combining innovation, efficiency, and respect for the environment, the group ensures a stronger and more competitive future for the Moroccan sugar sector.