The argan tree (Sideroxylon spinosum), also known as Argania spinosa, is a species of flowering plant endemic to the calcareous semi-desert Sous valley of southwestern Morocco and the region of Tindouf in southwestern Algeria. The former scientific name Argania was derived from argan, the name of the tree in Shilha, the Berber language which is spoken by the majority of the people living in the areas where the tree is endemic. Shilha Berber has a rich vocabulary for the various parts of the fruit, its stages of ripeness, and its harvesting and processing.
Argan trees grow to 8-10 m (26-33 ft) high and live up to approximately 200 years. They are thorny, with gnarled trunks and wide spreading crown. The leaves are small, 2-4 cm (3⁄4-1+5⁄8 in) long, and oval with a rounded apex. The flowers are small, with five pale yellow-green petals; flowering occurs in April. The fruit is 2-4 cm long and 1.5-3 cm (5⁄8-1+1⁄8 in) broad, with a thick, bitter peel surrounding a sweet-smelling but unpleasantly flavoured layer of pulpy pericarp. This surrounds the very hard nut, which contains one (occasionally two or three) small, oil-rich seeds.
Argan Tree Flowers
The Argan Ecosystem in Morocco
The argan tree used to grow throughout North Africa, but today it only grows in southwestern Morocco. Argan is perfectly adapted to the region's harsh environment, with the ability to survive extreme heat (over 50 °C), drought and poor soil. Although numbers are dwindling, argan is the second most abundant tree in Moroccan forests, with over twenty million trees living in the region and playing a vital role in the food chain and environment. The tree's roots grow deep into the ground in search of water, which helps bind soil and prevents erosion. In Morocco, arganeraie forests now only cover some 8,280 km2 (3,200 sq mi) and are designated as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.
The Role of Goats in the Argan Forest
One of the most iconic sights in Morocco is that of goats climbing argan trees. The goats are attracted to the fruit in argans and, agile as they are, will clamber up to reach the pulpy treats. Browsing directly harms the existing, mature argan trees as goats will climb high into the branches of an argan tree to reach its fruit. Argan trees are a major source of forage for sheep, goats, camels and cattle. The fruit and leaves are readily consumed by livestock.
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Argan fruit falls in July, when they are black and dry. Until this happens, goats are kept out of the argan woodlands by wardens. Rights to collect the fruit are controlled by law and village traditions. The "nuts" are gathered after fruit consumption and spat out by ruminating goats.
The goats eat the fruit of the Argan tree (Argania Spinosa) and the seeds from their waste it what argan oil is extracted from. The goats are mad for argan fruit and people are mad for argan oil as beauty, medicine, and food products. It is a mutually beneficial relationship.
Goats in Argan Tree
Tree-climbing goats in Morocco's argan forest
Argan Oil Production
Argan oil is produced by several women's co-operatives in the southwestern parts of Morocco. The most labour-intensive part of oil-extraction is removal of the soft pulp (used to feed animals) and the cracking by hand, between two stones, of the hard nut. The seeds are then removed and gently roasted. This roasting accounts for part of the oil's distinctive, nutty flavour. The traditional technique for oil extraction is to grind the roasted seeds to paste, with a little water, in a stone rotary quern. The paste is then squeezed by hand to extract the oil.
The extracted paste is still oil-rich and is used as animal feed. Oil produced this way can be stored and used for three to six months, and can be produced as needed from kernels, which can keep for 20 years unopened. Argan oil is used for dipping bread, on couscous and salads, and for other similar uses. A dip for bread known as amlou is made from argan oil, almonds, and peanuts, sometimes sweetened by honey or sugar. Argan oil is sold in Morocco as a luxury item. Sales of the product have grown since being marketed by the cosmetics industry in the US and Europe in the early 21st century.
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Here's the process:
- Collection of Argan Fruit: The process begins with the collection of ripe Argan fruit.
- Goats Consume the Fruit: Goats consume the Argan fruit, digesting the outer pulp.
- Excretion of Seeds: The goats excrete the hard seeds of the Argan fruit.
- Collection of Seeds: Locals collect the excreted seeds from goat droppings.
- Cracking the Shell: The hard shells of the seeds are cracked open, often by hand.
- Kernel Extraction: The kernels inside the seeds are extracted.
- Grinding: The kernels are ground into a paste.
- Oil Extraction: The oil is extracted from the paste through pressing.
- Filtration: The extracted oil is filtered to remove impurities.
- Packaging: Finally, the Argan oil is packaged and ready for distribution.
Argan nuts contain anywhere from one to three oil-rich kernels. At Sephora, this 1.7 ounce bottle of argan oil goes for $48. It has nearly 6,000 reviews and they are primarily favorable. Edible oil harvested from goat's poop? At $300/L or more, argan oil has become a booming business that has bettered the prospects of many rural Moroccan families, both economically and educationally.
The oil contains 80% unsaturated fatty acids, is rich in essential fatty acids, and is more resistant to oxidation than olive oil.
Conservation and Challenges
Their area has shrunk by about half during the last 100 years, due to charcoal making, grazing, increasingly intensive cultivation and the expansion of urban and rural settlements. Livestock numbers have increased substantially, with signs of overgrazing and over browsing in the argan forest. The best hope for the conservation of the trees may lie in the recent development of a thriving export market for argan oil as a high-value product. However, the wealth brought by argan oil export has also created threats to argan trees in the form of increased goat population. Locals use the newfound wealth to buy more goats and the goats stunt the growth of the argan trees by climbing up and eating their leaves and fruit.
Locals use the newfound wealth to buy more goats and the goats stunt the growth of the argan trees by climbing up and eating their leaves and fruit. Using goats as aerial eye candy is good “for attracting tourists,” Fedriani says, “but it's not good for the trees at all.”
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Table: Uses of Argan Tree
| Part of Tree | Use |
|---|---|
| Fruit | Eaten by livestock and humans |
| Nuts | Source of argan oil |
| Leaves | Forage for livestock |
| Wood | Fuel |
| Press cake | Animal feed |
The Berber Culture and the Argan Tree
The argan tree has played a role in the cultures of the Berber people living there for hundreds of years. Argan is a multi-purpose tree and each part of it is usable as a food or economic resource. Argan is a multi-purpose tree and each part of it is usable as a food or economic resource.
A study on the Ingestive behavior of goats grazing in the Southwestern Argan (Argania spinosa) forest of Morocco found that, on average, these animals graze on argan trees 387 minutes per day. That's over 6 hours. Argan accounts for between 47 percent and 84 percent of a tree goat's diet, depending on the season. They will graze both beneath the tree and up in its aerial leaves. Perhaps the goats enjoy eating argan so much because it's chock-full of vitamin E and all those essential fatty acids make them feel better. Human consumers around the world certainly feel that way.
International Recognition
The unique geographical properties of the region led to an application with the European Union to protect Argane (argan in French) by the Moroccan government. On 3 March 2021, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to proclaim 10 May the International Day of Argania, an observance to be celebrated annually. Amongst the motivations for this proclamation were the importance of Argania to sustainable development in areas where it is endemic.
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