Today, May 10th, is the first international day of argania! This was adopted by the United Nations on Morocco’s initiative to celebrate the ancient tree as part of the cultural heritage. Today, Thousands of native Amazigh in southern Morocco depend on the argan tree for food security and their livelihoods.
Argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world and is hailed as the “liquid gold” of Morocco. It has multiple uses in cooking, medicines and cosmetics. Its ability to prevent cardiovascular diseases and its benefits for the skin are scientifically recognized. Rural women lead the entire extraction process through knowledge transmitted from one generation to the next.
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.
