Definition: argan

Women's expertise:

Producing half a litre of argan oil requires 50 kg of fruit and the expertise of many women. The kernel is opened using a stone, the harvested seeds are ground and kneaded with a little water to form a paste, which is then pressed between two millstones.

A better quality of life:

Berbères de Tamanar has formed a cooperative. The oil that it used to produce for its families is now produced using the most modern tools, which has improved the quality and shelf life of the product. Thanks to the sale of the oil, the women earn a considerable additional income. The Slow Food Foundation for Biodiversity supports producer associations that fulfil a social, economic or ecological function. The argan forests have been declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, as a means of slowing the advance of the Sahara.

Source: Coop-Slow Food