Morocco loses native wheat and barley varieties amid biodiversity decline
Morocco has lost nearly 75 percent of its native wheat and barley varieties over the past five decades, marking a sharp erosion of its agricultural biodiversity. The disappearance of these traditional seeds has raised concerns over food security, environmental stability, and the resilience of farming systems facing increasing climate stress.
The decline has been linked to the spread of imported hybrid seeds and the rise of modern intensive agriculture. These practices have gradually replaced local crop varieties that were historically adapted to Morocco’s diverse climates and soils. Farming systems have shifted toward uniform production models, reducing genetic diversity across key staple crops.
Agriculture continues to play a central role in the national economy, contributing between 12 and 15 percent of GDP and sustaining millions of rural jobs. Export-oriented production has also expanded, with agricultural exports reaching more than MAD 85 billion in 2024. However, this growth has increased reliance on a narrow set of crop varieties and external seed inputs, especially in vegetable production where hybrids account for the majority of output.
Intensive farming has also increased pressure on natural resources. High water consumption and energy use have weakened long-term agricultural resilience in a country already exposed to recurring droughts. Soil degradation adds another layer of concern, with average organic matter in farmland estimated at 1.3 percent, a level considered insufficient to maintain long-term fertility.
Organic agriculture remains a policy priority under national development strategies, with targets set at 100,000 hectares by 2030. Certified organic land reached around 13,300 hectares in 2025, but progress remains constrained by high certification costs, limited technical support, and weak domestic demand.
Urban expansion is further reducing available farmland, with land dedicated to urban use rising significantly over recent decades. At the same time, invasive species and agricultural pests have caused severe ecological losses in several regions, including major damage to olive orchards and the collapse of cactus plantations due to infestation outbreaks.
Regional disparities highlight the scale of the crisis. Parts of the Oriental region have seen extensive grazing land degradation, while areas such as Souss-Massa report biodiversity losses exceeding 80 percent in some farming systems due to greenhouse expansion. Beekeeping and medicinal plant production are also in decline, reflecting broader ecosystem stress.
Authorities still lack a complete national biodiversity map and an official classification of endangered ecosystems, limiting targeted intervention. Morocco’s agrobiodiversity index score of 54.1 indicates moderate performance compared with Mediterranean peers, but gaps remain in soil health and production diversity. The long-term trajectory points to a structural challenge linking agriculture, climate adaptation, and national food security.
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