Morocco, along with several other nations from different parts of the world is among the beneficiaries of the UN and Turkey-mediated Black Sea Grain Initiative
Beneficiaries include Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, and Sudan, as well as Spain, Portugal, France, and Ireland.
This initiative aims to combat global food insecurity and hunger by delivering food and fertilizer from Ukraine to various regions worldwide, according to the US State Department.
The Black Sea Grain Initiative is part of a broader effort to address the global food crisis and scarcity, which are particularly prevalent in Africa and the Middle East, where many countries are grappling with food shortages.
According to the World Food Program, over 345 million people globally face severe food insecurity, and the 2022 Global Report on Food Crises 2022 Mid-Year Update estimates that 140 million people in Africa experience food insecurity.
Morocco’s participation in this initiative is crucial as the country has long been dependent on imported cereal grains, with 21% of its exports coming from the agri-food industry.
Currently, Morocco is facing high levels of food inflation, and the stability of its food systems is significantly impacted by worsening water scarcity and climate change.
To address the food crisis, the Moroccan government took action to increase domestic wheat production. In April 2021, import duties of 135% were imposed on foreign soft wheat, followed by a 170% duty on durum wheat in June 2021.
Since its inception in August of the previous year, the Black Sea Grain Initiative has facilitated the shipment of more than 30 million metric tons of food worldwide.
The program has not only contributed to reducing food prices for the least developed countries but has also brought stability to global food markets.
The establishment of the Black Sea Grain Initiative was a response to the Russian conflict against Ukraine, which disrupted farming operations and the production chain.
This initiative successfully encouraged Ukraine to export 56 million tons of grain.
Out of this amount, approximately 29 million tons were provided to underdeveloped nations, while the rest was directly exported to the European Union through the solidarity lanes.
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