Moroccan households wasted 4.2 million tons of food in 2022, equivalent to 113 kg per person, CESE report says

The Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) revealed that Moroccan households threw away around 4.2 million tons of food in 2022, which is equivalent to 113 kilograms per person.

Presenting a new report on Wednesday, CESE member Mina Rouchati said these losses put extra pressure on natural resources, with more than 1.6 billion cubic meters of water used each year to produce food that never reaches consumers.

The report, titled “Food Loss and Waste in Morocco: Scale of the Phenomenon and Challenges for Effective Action,” highlighted the scale of food loss and waste throughout the value chain, from agricultural production to consumption.

The Council called for a targeted national action plan to combat food loss and waste, noting that these losses undermine efforts to strengthen food security and promote national agricultural production.

CESE stressed the need for a comprehensive approach involving all actors in the food sector, including producers, processors, distributors, and consumers.

It recommended establishing a structured national action plan, including a national observatory to collect and analyze data on food losses, guiding public policies, and identifying the most effective interventions.

It also called for building storage and transport infrastructure in high-potential agricultural areas, such as hermetic silos and solar-powered cold rooms, to extend the shelf life of perishable products.

CESE urged support for local processing units at the municipal level, including small mobile units capable of quickly processing harvests and adding value to local produce. 

The move, the Council said, would reduce post-harvest losses and boost the local economy.

The report also recommended promoting short marketing chains and stronger market regulation to cut losses from multiple intermediaries and improve producers’ earnings.