Rare 'Moroccan Gold' emerging as rising star in edible oils
Oil is extracted from the nut of the Argan fruit; the tree grows only in specific area of Morocco, making the oil a rare commodity (Photo by Volunteer Morocco Argan Enterprise,
www.volunteermorocco.org) NEARLY 1,000 edible oils were launched in the 12 months to the end of March 2010, Innova Database (
www.innovadatabase.com) reports, and the vast majority were standards such as olive oil, sunflower oil, soy oil and blended products, supported by specialities such as grapeseed, walnut, avocado and macadamia. Within that, however, there are signs that a new star may be emerging in the form of argan oil. Argan oil is extracted from the nuts of the argan tree (Argania spinosa), which grows only in southwestern Morocco. Product activity is still extremely limited, and traditional extraction method is quite painstaking. "Each nut has to be cracked open to remove the kernels, and it is said that producing one litre of oil takes 20 hours' work," according to an article in Al-Bab (
www.al-bab.com). With its small and specific growing area, argan oil is one of the rarest oils in the world. Traditionally used by the indigenous Berber population in cooking and in cosmetics, it is very rich in unsaturated fatty acids and has a high level of natural tocopherols, phenols, phenolic acids, carotenes and squalene. Innova notes, however, that there are definite signs of rising interest in the use of argan oil, often also known as "Moroccan Gold", and a move out of the cosmetics and supplements market and into the culinary oils sector. The Volunteer Morocco Argan Enterprise/Cooperative in Riad Imsouane (
www. volunteermorocco.org), for instance, aims to generate better income for women who are generally tasked to extract argan oil by introducing technologies that increase processing efficiency of argan oil and establish quality standards and standard packaging that will allow better distribution in both domestic and international markets. New product activity in argan oil recorded by Innova Market Insights dates back a number of years, but is notable for the emergence of skincare supplements based on argan oil beginning in the mid 2000s, particularly in France, followed by the appearance of an increasing number of culinary oils in a variety of countries, including the US, UK, Germany, France and Switzerland. All the products are notable for their premium positioning and high pricing, with some available only through specialist outlets such as natural and health food stores, speciality shops or via mail order or the Internet.
Argan oil supplements have generally focused either on anti-aging in general, or skin care, including sun protection, or on the health of hair and nails, whilst the culinary oil can generally be used as a replacement for other oils, such as olive oil, in salad dressings or dips, and can be used to drizzle over pasta or meat and fish. "Alongside growing levels of product activity, there has been a rising level of press coverage on the benefits of argan oil" reports Lu Ann Williams, Innova Market Insights' head of Research, "and this should help to increase levels of awareness and interest, although the high pricing, even if it reduces from its current level, may well prove a barrier to further development." However, limited supplies is likely to be the key issue, she contends, despite a UNESCO preservation project for the threatened argan tree in Morocco helping to maintain and even develop supply there. Whilst Israel has also been trying to develop a viable crop of argan trees for a number of years, this may raise issues of geographical origin and the
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