The argan tree (Argania spinosa) is native to Morocco’s west-central region and stands as the sole representative of the Sapotaceae family in North Africa. Its UNESCO Biosphere Reserve-designated forest provides essential resources, including the globally prized argan oil, livestock forage, and wood. Morocco’s “Generation Green 2020-2030” initiative targets doubling argan oil production to 10,000 tons by 2030. All raw sequencing data, genome assemblies, and annotations have been deposited in public repositories. This genomic resource provides a foundation for understanding genetic diversity, drought resilience, and the biochemical pathways behind argan oil production.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 07, 2026 04:39 UTC