“The Green Deal should not be seen as a constraint, but rather as an opportunity to continue modernizing our agricultural practices, strengthening our agriculture, and consolidating our competitiveness in international markets,” said Mohammed Sadiki, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, on Friday in Agadir.
Speaking at the opening of an international conference organized by Morocco Foodex, an autonomous body for the control and coordination of exports, under the theme “The Green Deal and the new sustainability challenges for Moroccan exports to the European Union,” Mr. Sadiki emphasized that the Green Deal, a set of measures aimed at guiding countries in the European Union and the Mediterranean towards a sustainable model that respects natural resources, represents a turning point in trade relations between Morocco and the European Union.
In this regard, he stressed the need to anticipate, adapt, and innovate to successfully meet the challenge of the European plan and the sustainability of Moroccan exports to the European Union.
In this sense, the minister recalled the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which place environmental issues, sustainable management of water resources, and food self-sufficiency at the heart of national priorities.
For her part, the Director General of Morocco Foodex, Ghita El Ghorfi, indicated that the agri-food export sector ranks second among Moroccan export sectors, noting that the European market remains the main destination for Moroccan products recognized for their particular quality.
She added that the organization of this conference is part of this context, aiming to create a space for exchange and sharing of expertise between Moroccan and European experts, particularly regarding best practices in sustainability to meet the new requirements of European markets.
For his part, Paul Henri Presset, Head of the Commercial Section at the EU Delegation in Rabat, stated that the Green Deal aims to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050, profoundly transforming production and consumption patterns, specifying that among the new requirements of the Green Deal are the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, responsible use of natural resources, and the adoption of more sustainable agricultural practices.
Luis Dias Pereira, an economist at the investment center of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), emphasized that this meeting is part of the ongoing dialogue between Morocco and the European Union, as two historic economic partners, adding that this conclave examines several themes, particularly regarding strengthening trade links in light of sustainability and environmental challenges.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, this conference reflects the commitment to the development of Moroccan agricultural, food, and maritime exports.
It is part of a mission to support and raise awareness among Moroccan exporters operating in the agri-food and fisheries sectors for a deeper understanding and coordinated action of all national agricultural and maritime sectors to ensure the consolidation of the positioning of Moroccan exportable supply in a context marked by the acceleration of the regulatory implementation timeline of the Green Deal in the European Union markets.
This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the implications of the Green Deal and examine its impacts on the export of agricultural, food, and maritime products to the European Union.
It also allowed for the sharing of experiences and best practices in sustainability to meet the new requirements of European markets.
During this meeting, several panels were organized and led by international experts, focusing on themes such as the transition to a sustainable agri-food system, the role of fruits and vegetables in combating climate change, and the new challenges of the Green Deal for fishing and aquaculture.
In addition to the panels, sectoral workshops addressed specific themes, such as the sustainable use of pesticides, the decarbonization of fruits and vegetables, and the valorization of marine products through blue transformation.
Furthermore, the conference highlighted the efforts already made by Morocco in strengthening the sustainability of the agricultural and fisheries sectors within the frameworks of the Generation Green and Halieutis strategies.