Researchers in Morocco recently found that local farmer-run cooperatives deliver stronger environmental and social performance in cannabis seed oil production than other methods, including artisanal or industrial, according to research published in an MDPI journal.
Researchers evaluated three production models, traditional artisanal pressing, cooperative processing, and regulated industrial production, under Morocco's Law No. 13-21, adopted in 2021, which legalized cannabis cultivation for industrial, medical, and pharmaceutical purposes. The findings arrive as the global hemp seed oil market, valued at $3.26 billion in 2025, races toward an estimated $15.63 billion by 2034, driven by sectors such as food and cosmetics.
"Irrigation and fertilization are the main drivers of the environmental footprint of cannabis oil production," the researchers wrote. Traditional gravity irrigation on Moroccan farms consumes between 2,000 and 3,000 liters per kilogram of dry biomass. Drip irrigation cuts water use by 30% to 50%, the study found.
The farmer cooperative model, the study found, capitalizes on those agronomic strengths while advancing social equity. Integrating small producers into cooperatives and returning to "Beldia" cultivation (specific to the Rif region) form the twin pillars of a territorial development strategy aimed at reducing poverty in the rural Rif region while protecting its ecosystem.
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