High Atlas Foundation

Certifies and exports organic walnuts and almonds.
2013 SEED Africa Award; European Union
Sustainable Agriculture
Marrakech
Morocco

HAA aims to certify and sell organic walnuts and almonds produced in the high Atlas Mountains, giving global buyers in Europe and the US direct access to the products. All profits from the sale of products, after farmers’ and production costs, go to the High Atlas Foundation for reinvestment into community projects. The enterprise also encourages entrepreneurship and facilitates fruit and nut tree plantations through training and education. This “nursery to export” agricultural project is replicable and can be extended to other regions and products in Morocco.

Eco-Inclusive Impacts
The enterprise encourages entrepreneurship and facilitates fruit and nut tree plantations through training and education.
  • Training 150,000 people across 12 rural municipalities neighbouring the Toubkal National Park in business and agricultural techniques and project management.
  • Changing the status of marginalised rural communities by improving the overall economic development of agriculture, lifting farmers and their families out of poverty.
  • Planting at least 700,000 trees via the High Atlas Foundation to capture 500 tons of carbon dioxide over five years, mitigating climate change and preventing soil erosion.
  • Reducing the impact of pesticides and other chemicals used in agricultural production through organic farming.
  • Offering responsible consumers an organic alternative to conventional walnuts and almonds.
  • Federating entrepreneurs and cooperatives to increase their access to global markets for organic walnuts and almonds.
  • Increasing income for walnut and almond farming families by 400 % on average over fi ve years.

Partners

This enterprise aims to export organic farming products to generate a revenue stream that assists rural communities throughout the entire agricultural development cycle (tree nurseries, irrigation, training, organic certification, and marketing) and thus increases household incomes for rural families while preserving natural resources. 

High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is an NGO dedicated to the development of disadvantaged regions. HAAA is HAF’s corporate fiduciary managing its agricultural and craft trade projects.

Commune Rural de Toubkal provides access to the city’s infrastructures, administration and local development activities. It also organises public meetings and meetings with potential business partners. 

Wanamrou Association supports local socio-economic development, bringing farmers together to work with the enterprise in the harvest and organic certification process.