BRUSSELS, May 11, 2026 — Every year on May 10, the International Day of Argania recognises the cultural, environmental and socio-economic importance of the argan tree and the communities that sustain it.
Celebrated under the auspices of the United Nations, the day highlights the contribution of the argan ecosystem to sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and the preservation of ancestral knowledge. The International Cooperative Alliance [ICA] joined this year’s celebrations by recognising the vital role played by cooperatives — particularly women-led cooperatives — in safeguarding this unique cultural heritage for future generations.
In Morocco’s argan-growing regions, cooperatives have evolved beyond purely economic entities to become centres for preserving traditional knowledge, strengthening women’s economic independence and leadership, and collectively protecting ecosystems increasingly threatened by climate change and desertification.
Through cooperation, the argan tree has become both a symbol of resilience and a practical example of how cultural heritage and sustainable development can coexist.
Tiago Luiz Schmidt, Chairperson of the ICA Working Group on Cooperative Cultural Heritage [CCH], said the International Day of Argania 2026 recognised the essential role of cooperation in safeguarding and transmitting shared cultural heritage.
“We pay particular tribute to women cooperators whose knowledge, leadership and commitment sustain communities and keep intangible cultural heritage alive across generations,” Schmidt said.
“Through collective action, solidarity and shared memory, we strengthen cultural diversity and reaffirm heritage as a vital resource for social cohesion, resilience and sustainable development.”
The statement reflects the spirit of the ICA’s CCH programme, which works to safeguard both tangible and intangible elements of cooperative cultural heritage around the world.
In the case of argan production, the cooperative model has demonstrated how communities can simultaneously protect biodiversity, sustain livelihoods and preserve cultural identity.
According to the Department of the Promotion of the Cooperative Sector at Morocco’s Office du Développement de la Coopération [ODCO], women-led argan cooperatives have transformed what was once a domestic and largely informal activity into a modern cooperative ecosystem rooted in solidarity and sustainability.
The cooperatives also help protect the UNESCO-recognised Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve, which spans more than 2.5 million hectares in the Souss-Massa region and serves as a natural barrier against desertification.
ODCO further noted the significant social impact of the cooperative model, saying women producers who organise themselves into cooperatives gain financial independence, participate in decision-making and access literacy and management training opportunities.
As a result, cooperatives have become important community hubs where economic empowerment is closely linked to social inclusion and local development.
At the same time, the cooperatives continue to preserve ancestral Amazigh knowledge associated with the argan tree. Traditional techniques, including the manual cracking of argan nuts using stone tools, continue to be passed down through generations, ensuring that cultural practices linked to argan oil production remain alive.
“The argan cooperative is not just a place of work; it is a space for social innovation,” ODCO stated.
The close relationship between people, culture and biodiversity has also received international recognition through the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO].
Through its Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems [GIAHS] initiative, FAO recognises Morocco’s argan-based production system as a globally significant agricultural heritage system that combines biodiversity conservation, traditional knowledge and sustainable livelihoods.
FAO says the argan ecosystem supports local communities while preserving fragile environments and maintaining centuries-old practices adapted to arid conditions. The system demonstrates how traditional agricultural knowledge can contribute to climate resilience, food security and sustainable resource management amid growing environmental challenges.
The cooperative movement has long acknowledged the importance of argan cooperatives as a model for sustainable and inclusive development.
In 2022, the ICA marked the International Day of Argania by highlighting the role of cooperatives and the argan tree as intangible assets for sustainable development.
More recently, in 2025, the CCH programme included the argan ecosystem and the women’s cooperatives that sustain it on its List of Tangible Cooperative Cultural Heritage, recognising their global cultural significance.
The experience of cooperatives such as the women’s cooperative Toudarte, featured in the ICA-EU #coops4dev🌍 “Around the World” video series, further illustrates how cooperation creates opportunities for women while preserving local heritage and traditional knowledge.
Through collective organisation, women producers have strengthened their position within their communities and connected local traditions to global markets without losing their cultural identity.
As the world marks the International Day of Argania, the ICA has reaffirmed that cooperatives remain essential actors in preserving cultural heritage, empowering communities and advancing sustainable development.
The argan tree, the organisation said, stands not only as a natural resource but also as a symbol of collective memory, solidarity and resilience — values deeply embedded in the cooperative movement.
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