Argan, the Oil Which Hides the Domestic Forest: From the Development of the Product to the Naturalization of the Ecosystem (original) (raw)

Autrepart, 2009

Abstract

Highly prized by the “grand cuisine chef ” or as a luxury cosmetic product, Moroccan argan oil is put forward through marketing as a women-made product, from a forest tree under management practices that relate essentially to sylviculture. Its production has given way to a sudden interest by a diversity of markets. However, although it has become most famous, the vision that consumers have of its origin is very vague, except for the “Epinal ” image of a tree browsed by goats, endemic to Morocco (Argania spinosa), and which nuts give a miraculous oil. While a geographic indication label is being established for the argan oil, a scientific approach is most required to understanding the impact of this market “explosion ” on local knowledge and know-how, and of the presence in the “argan region ” of a large variety of new development stakeholders. Adding-value policies applying to argan oil are examined in this paper which demonstrates the existence of a naturalizing process of the agro...

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