Rabat – As Agadir hosts three major OECD Scheme events that kicked off yesterday, the city has transformed into a major international platform for agricultural diplomacy and technical exchange.
The three events – the 19th Meeting of National Inspection Service Heads, the Harmonization Workshops for Quality Controls, and the 84th OECD Scheme Plenary Meeting for Fruit and Vegetables – are scheduled to run through November 28.
Delegations from more than 20 member and partner countries — including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, several African nations, and Latin American countries — are taking part.
European, regional, and international institutions have also joined the discussions, highlighting Morocco’s growing importance on the global agricultural stage.
The opening session, held this morning, was chaired by the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari.
Accompanied by senior officials from the OECD, FAO, and the EBRD, the minister underlined the significance of hosting these high-level meetings in Morocco.
This choice reflects the strength of the Morocco–OECD partnership and recognizes the country’s advancements in sustainable production systems, quality control, and agricultural competitiveness, he argued.
The minister reiterated Morocco’s vision for an agricultural model built on cooperation, transparency, and sustainability.
According to him, this long-term approach aims to ensure a food future that is safer, fairer, and more resilient — while reinforcing Morocco’s influence in global agricultural value chains.
Launch of the Morocco Sustain Food Standard (MSFS)
A highlight of today’s program was the official launch of the Morocco Sustain Food Standard (MSFS), a new national sustainability benchmark developed by Morocco Foodex in cooperation with the FAO and co-funded by the European Union and the EBRD.
The MSFS covers four major pillars: governance, regulatory compliance, social responsibility, and environmental performance. Certification is structured around three progressive levels — Commitment, Mastery, and Excellence.
A total of 22 pilot companies from the citrus, early produce, processed goods, and fisheries sectors received their MSFS certification during an official ceremony held today.
The rollout of the standard has been gradual and methodical: a national caravan crossed six regions to present it to operators, a feasibility study involving thirty companies helped identify operational priorities, and a benchmark conducted with the UN’s International Trade Centre compared the MSFS to sixteen global standards.
An intensive training program for auditors and companies has also been launched to ensure consistent application of the framework nationwide.
Meanwhile, the harmonization workshops — ongoing throughout the week — are gathering inspectors for practical case studies aimed at aligning Moroccan practices with international norms and meeting the growing demands of global markets, notably in Europe amid the evolving requirements of the Green Deal.
A special Africa-focused session is also scheduled to expand fruit and vegetable trade and strengthen South–South cooperation.
With these initiatives unfolding until November 28, Morocco is reaffirming its leadership in sustainable agriculture and its commitment to delivering high-quality, compliant, and competitive products to international markets.
