The Court of Auditors has issued a warning: Morocco can no longer treat food sovereignty and climate transition separately. In its latest annual report, the institution, chaired by Zineb El Adaoui, calls for an integrated national strategy that can simultaneously address the challenges of food security and decarbonization, while highlighting concerning delays in several key sectors.
Central to the recommendations is a singular idea: structural reforms must be accelerated and governance weaknesses that hinder the performance and sustainability of productive sectors must be corrected.
Agri-food: A marketing system deemed insufficiently modernized
In the agri-food sector, the Court emphasizes the need for a comprehensive modernization of product marketing, strengthening downstream controls and more strictly applying standards related to packaging and hygiene.
The institution also notes the limitations of the 2017-2022 program contract for the agri-food industry, which reportedly covered only a portion of the sectors. The assessment reveals a low completion rate: only 48% of projects that sought public investment support have been successfully implemented.
Maritime fishing: Overexploitation, incomplete governance, and marginal aquaculture
The report also highlights a delay in adopting a new development strategy for maritime fishing, as well as in activating several governance bodies. Consequently, certain species continue to be exploited beyond biologically acceptable thresholds, undermining the sustainability of the resource.
Another critical point is that marine aquaculture remains significantly underdeveloped, accounting for less than 1% of national production. The Court attributes this situation to a lack of sector attractiveness, legal delays, and a shortage of skilled human resources.
Furthermore, the report points out the persistence of illegal fishing practices, which it links to gaps in monitoring and control mechanisms, particularly at the local level. In light of these findings, the institution recommends the rapid adoption of a new strategy to consolidate achievements and ensure the sustainability of fishery resources.
Forests: 17,000 hectares lost each year
Finally, the Court of Auditors raises alarms about the state of forest ecosystems. According to its estimates, the forest area experiences an annual loss of about 17,000 hectares, while pastoral pressure exceeds the capacity of the environment by two to three times, exacerbating degradation.
The institution highlights several shortcomings that hinder reforestation programs and recommends the development of a comprehensive action plan that brings together all interventions around clear objectives.
It also advocates for strengthening forest research, improving the plant production system, and establishing an integrated information system to allow for continuous monitoring of restoration operations.
A call for a coherent strategy, beyond sectoral approaches
Ultimately, the Court of Auditors urges moving beyond fragmented responses. For the institution, the challenge now is to build a coherent strategy that connects economic performance, food security, and climate requirements, in order to reduce delays and sustainably secure the country’s resources.