Argan oil - Sourcing Morocco's liquid gold

Prized argan oil, famed for its versatility and quenching effect on the skin and hair, is indigenous to Morocco. Here, women's co-operatives are working together to expertly and responsibly source this liquid gold.

Manna from heaven

The sun beats down on Arganeraie, Morocco, signalling the start of another hot day. The months from July to October are busy for members of a local women’s co-operative, who wake early to search for discarded fruits which fall regularly from mature argan trees during this period.

Argan oil has been used for culinary, cosmetic and medicinal purposes by the Berber people for centuries, yet in recent years, the oil has become big business in the international beauty industry. This boom has provided a large source of income for local communities who are keen to source the oil sustainably. Protection of the argan trees and the eco-system they support is of paramount importance. 

Turning fruit into oil

After collecting the precious argan fruits before grazing goats reach them, co-operative members bring the kernels to a cool community building and begin to process the fruits into an oil. At Ifrawnlhna, the women work together to prepare an average 1kg of shelled argan kernels each per day, removing the outer flesh and cracking the inner shell.

The kernels are then transported to the city of Agadir, where they’re squeezed together to extract the rich, amber liquid. It takes an estimated 2.3kg of argan kernel to produce a litre of the oil. To ensure that none of the fruit is wasted, argan cake (a byproduct of the process) is sold locally for cosmetic purposes, while the nutritious pulp is fed to village animals and the shells are burned for firewood.

The numerous village co-operatives send their processed kernels to Agadir. The argan oil operation is directed from here, with an elected president and union which arranges quality checks and exports, whilst managing demand.

Back to the source

Whenever an order is placed, it is designated to one of the village groups which produce it in full. This ensures that each delivery batch can be traced back to the workers who prepared it, and makes it easier to maintain high standards of freshness. As well as certifying that the oil produced is high quality, traceable and fresh, the union arranges ongoing training and assessments for each co-operative to help them all reach ECOCERT organic and Fair Trade status. This will secure their rank as artisan producers, ensuring they receive a fair price for their oil from all buyers.

Looking to the future

The union also works to keep business sustainable and environmentally friendly for local communities. The local government has funded the annual planting of around 300 hectares of saplings to protect this valuable industry for future generations and improve soil security. Amongst the quiet villages, argan trees are interspersed with almond, olive and jujube and more can be seen on the hillsides, their roots keeping the desert at bay. This valuable oil has a very important role to play on a local level, even as its star continues to rise in international markets.  

Discover our range of products containing argan oil, including Ro's Argan body conditioner and Jason and the Argan Oil shampoo bar.

Photography by Stephanie Newton