IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jworld/v5y2024i3p32-644d1450679.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Transition toward Sustainability in the Moroccan Food System: Drivers, Outcomes, and Challenges

Author

Listed:
  • Asmaa Benayad

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Samir Bikri

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Zakia Hindi

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Amina Lafram

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Chaimaa Belfakira

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Fatima-Zahra Yassif

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

  • Hamid El Bilali

    (International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Bari, Italy)

  • Youssef Aboussaleh

    (Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University Ibn Tofail, B.P. 133, Kenitra 14000, Morocco)

Abstract

Nowadays, food systems are undergoing major transformations to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, there are a lack of comprehensive reviews on this topic in developing countries. This work highlights food systems’ transition towards sustainability, focusing on Morocco. It was carried out through searching, selecting, evaluating, and synthesizing existing relevant scholarly and gray literature. In Morocco, a meaningful transition towards sustainability is being guided and carried out on several levels, despite numerous challenges, e.g., inability to cope with the detrimental effects of climate change and escalating water scarcity constitute fundamental problems. However, there are conflicting views on the outcomes of food system transformation. Some studies showed that Morocco has increased its agri-food export and reduced poverty to less than 5% of the population over the past decade; the proportion of wasted and malnourished children has declined from 25 to 15% and 4 to 3%, respectively, and the 2023 Global Hunger Index (GHI) showed a score of 9.0. Other studies showed that North Africa has entered a food security crisis; specifically, food inflation has reached unprecedented levels in Morocco. This paper provides valuable insights for policymakers and planners to design evidence-based policies and strategies to boost sustainable development in Morocco.

Suggested Citation

  • Asmaa Benayad & Samir Bikri & Zakia Hindi & Amina Lafram & Chaimaa Belfakira & Fatima-Zahra Yassif & Hamid El Bilali & Youssef Aboussaleh, 2024. "Transition toward Sustainability in the Moroccan Food System: Drivers, Outcomes, and Challenges," World, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-18, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jworld:v:5:y:2024:i:3:p:32-644:d:1450679
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/5/3/32/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4060/5/3/32/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gómez, Miguel I. & Ricketts, Katie D., 2013. "Food value chain transformations in developing countries - Selected hypotheses on nutritional implications," ESA Working Papers 288987, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Agricultural Development Economics Division (ESA).
    2. Matthew R. Smith & Samuel S. Myers, 2018. "Impact of anthropogenic CO2 emissions on global human nutrition," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(9), pages 834-839, September.
    3. Dorte Verner & David Treguer & John Redwood & Jens Christensen & Rachael McDonnell & Christine Elbert & Yasuo Konishi & Saad Belghazi, 2018. "Climate Variability, Drought, and Drought Management in Morocco's Agricultural Sector," World Bank Publications - Reports 30603, The World Bank Group.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gerald Nelson & Jessica Bogard & Keith Lividini & Joanne Arsenault & Malcolm Riley & Timothy B. Sulser & Daniel Mason-D’Croz & Brendan Power & David Gustafson & Mario Herrero & Keith Wiebe & Karen Coo, 2018. "Income growth and climate change effects on global nutrition security to mid-century," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(12), pages 773-781, December.
    2. Lutengano Mwinuka & Khamaldin Daud Mutabazi & Frieder Graef & Stefan Sieber & Jeremia Makindara & Anthony Kimaro & Götz Uckert, 2017. "Simulated willingness of farmers to adopt fertilizer micro-dosing and rainwater harvesting technologies in semi-arid and sub-humid farming systems in Tanzania," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 9(6), pages 1237-1253, December.
    3. Maria Elena Latino & Marta Menegoli & Martina De Giovanni, 2021. "Evaluating the Sustainability Dimensions in the Food Supply Chain: Literature Review and Research Routes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Montserrat Costa-Font & Cesar Revoredo-Giha, 2019. "Introduction of New Food Products in China: Is There a Trend towards Healthier and Safer Products?," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-23, February.
    5. Hounsou, M & Dabade, D. Sylvain & Götz, B & Hounhouigan, MH & Honfo, GF & Albrecht, A & Kreyenschmidt, J & Hounhouigan, DJ, 2022. "Handling practices, quality and loss estimation along the value chain of waragashi, a soft cheese from Benin," African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development (AJFAND), vol. 22(07).
    6. Glover, Dominic & Poole, Nigel, 2019. "Principles of innovation to build nutrition-sensitive food systems in South Asia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 63-73.
    7. deCastro, M. & Rusu, L. & Arguilé-Pérez, B. & Ribeiro, A. & Costoya, X. & Carvalho, D. & Gómez-Gesteira, M., 2024. "Different approaches to analyze the impact of future climate change on the exploitation of wave energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. Court Victor & Florent Mc Isaac, 2019. "A Representation of the World Population Dynamics for Integrated Assessment Models," Working Papers hal-03192539, HAL.
    9. Benjamin L. Turner & Hector M. Menendez & Roger Gates & Luis O. Tedeschi & Alberto S. Atzori, 2016. "System Dynamics Modeling for Agricultural and Natural Resource Management Issues: Review of Some Past Cases and Forecasting Future Roles," Resources, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-24, November.
    10. Anthony Fardet & Edmond Rock, 2020. "Ultra-Processed Foods and Food System Sustainability: What Are the Links?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-26, August.
    11. Berger, Mira & van Helvoirt, Bram, 2018. "Ensuring food secure cities – Retail modernization and policy implications in Nairobi, Kenya," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 12-22.
    12. Aymen Sawassi & Roula Khadra & Brian Crookston, 2024. "Water Banking as a Strategy for the Management and Conservation of a Critical Resource: A Case Study from Tunisia’s Medjerda River Basin (MRB)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-20, May.
    13. Diede Smith & Marina de Regt & Addis Alem Tekalign, 2022. "Baking injera in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: Women's invisible labor in the teff value chain," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1428-1442, September.
    14. Qaim, Matin & Andersson, Camilla I.M. & Chege, Christine G.K. & Kimenju, Simon Chege & Klasen, Stephan & Rischke, Ramona, 2014. "Nutrition Effects of the Supermarket Revolution on Urban Consumers and Smallholder Farmers in Kenya," GlobalFood Discussion Papers 180976, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, GlobalFood, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    15. Béné, Christophe & Oosterveer, Peter & Lamotte, Lea & Brouwer, Inge D. & de Haan, Stef & Prager, Steve D. & Talsma, Elise F. & Khoury, Colin K., 2019. "When food systems meet sustainability – Current narratives and implications for actions," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 116-130.
    16. Hidayati, Dwi Ratna & Garnevska, Elena & Childerhouse, Paul, 2021. "Transforming Developing Countries Agrifood Value Chains," International Journal on Food System Dynamics, International Center for Management, Communication, and Research, vol. 12(04), December.
    17. Teresa Rodríguez-Espinosa & Irene Voukkali & Ana Pérez-Gimeno & María Belén Almendro Candel & J. David Hernández-Martich & Antonis A. Zorpas & Ignacio Gómez Lucas & Jose Navarro-Pedreño, 2024. "Waste as a Sustainable Source of Nutrients for Plants and Humans: A Strategy to Reduce Hidden Hunger," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-23, August.
    18. Dwi Ratna Hidayati & Elena Garnevska & Paul Childerhouse, 2021. "Sustainable Agrifood Value Chain—Transformation in Developing Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-20, November.
    19. Quinn Marshall & Alexandra L. Bellows & Rebecca McLaren & Andrew D. Jones & Jessica Fanzo, 2021. "You Say You Want a Data Revolution? Taking on Food Systems Accountability," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-16, May.
    20. Makaiko G. Khonje & Matin Qaim, 2019. "Modernization of African Food Retailing and (Un)healthy Food Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-18, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jworld:v:5:y:2024:i:3:p:32-644:d:1450679. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.