Photo Gallery: The reality behind Morocco’s argan oil boom
25 November 2025
Argan oil is a global beauty sensation, but in Morocco’s Sous Valley, the women who have produced it for generations are struggling to keep their cooperatives alive. Investigate Europe travelled to Morocco to capture the reality behind this booming market. Take a look at the photos from their daily lives and work.
Goats really do climb argan trees looking for the choicest of fruits.Juliet Ferguson
Argan trees grow almost exclusively in the Souss-Massa region of Morocco.Juliet Ferguson
It takes over 50 years for a tree to develop fruit ready to be harvested.Juliet Ferguson
A goat looks down from the tree branches.Juliet Ferguson
Trading in the Grand Souk Had, done almost exclusively by men.Juliet Ferguson
Poor harvests have meant less fruit to be traded in the Grand Souk Had Draa.Juliet Ferguson
Husbands and sons will buy the fruit and sell the kernels Grand Souk Had Draa. Juliet Ferguson
.Sacks of argan fruit in storage in the Tanoute co-operative.Juliet Ferguson
In Coopérative Agricole Féminine Taitmatine, Taroudant, women crush the fruit by hand.Juliet Ferguson
Crushing the nut between two stones to extract the kernel.Juliet Ferguson
Behind the glass at Coopérative Ajddigue technicians are at work sampling the oil.Juliet Ferguson
Tea, honey, amlou and bread – Berber hospitality.Juliet Ferguson
A demonstration of one of the elusive machines that automate the crushing process.Juliet Ferguson
Staff in a co-operative explain the benefits of the products.Juliet Ferguson