Women Cultivating the Future: Al Mostakbal Cooperative and Seaweed Farming in the Marchica Lagoon
Thursday, 11 June 2026 — In the Marchica Lagoon, located in the Oriental Region of Morocco, a group of women is demonstrating that innovation, sustainability, and women’s empowerment can go hand in hand. They are members of the Al Mostakbal Cooperative, made up of women beneficiaries of the project I+DeAlgas: Women for the Sustainable Development of the Marchica Lagoon.
This initiative is led by the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC) and the Women for Africa Foundation (MxA), with funding from Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECID), and with the association Femmes pour l’Afrique (FxA) as its main implementing partner. Its objective is to economically empower vulnerable women in Nador through the cultivation, processing, and marketing of the seaweed Gracilaria gracilis, with specialised support provided through the cooperative, which manages 15 hectares dedicated to cultivation and 1 hectare for research activities in the Marchica Lagoon.
Thanks to a comprehensive training programme covering aquaculture techniques, processing, and marketing, the women of Al Mostakbal have acquired new professional skills and have paved the way in an emerging sector of the blue economy, aligned with Morocco’s national policies such as the Halieutis Plan and the Regional Development Programme (RDP).
Below are the testimonies of some of these remarkable women:
Jamila Karroum, President of the Al Mostakbal Cooperative:
“As President of the Al Mostakbal Cooperative, seaweed farming has enabled me to contribute to innovation, sustainable development, and the empowerment of women in Morocco’s Oriental Region. Through this experience, we contribute to enhancing the value of marine resources and strengthening a local initiative, while also demonstrating that women have a place in scientific research and in emerging sectors of the blue economy.”
Dalila Attelhaoui:
“Being part of the Al Mostakbal Cooperative represented a major challenge for me, as I entered an emerging sector traditionally dominated by men. We had to break stereotypes and demonstrate our ability to engage in the different stages of the work. This experience reinforced my conviction that science and innovation can drive sustainable initiatives with both economic and environmental impact, and strengthened my ambition to continue contributing to the valorisation of local marine resources from both a scientific and female perspective.”
Laila Salami:
“My experience in the seaweed sector has been a journey of learning and discovery. As a woman passionate about science, I firmly believe in the importance of sustainably valuing natural resources and in the crucial role that scientific knowledge plays in generating a positive impact on society. Although the path has not always been easy, my motivation to learn and contribute to innovative solutions has driven me forward. This experience has reinforced my belief that the seaweed sector offers promising opportunities and strengthens the role of women in the blue economy. It has also consolidated my confidence in women’s ability to innovate and excel in the scientific field, as well as the idea that perseverance, continuous learning, and innovation can transform challenges into opportunities for sustainable development and women’s empowerment.”
Naoual Boudrissi:
*”Thanks to continuous learning, training, and hands-on experience, my initial concerns evolved into a genuine passion for seaweed farming. I have always been interested in cosmetics and skincare, so discovering the use of seaweed in the development of natural cosmetic products and understanding its benefits became a key source of motivation for me to deepen my involvement in this field. Over time, I realised that seaweed is not merely a marine resource, but a true treasure with multiple applications in cosmetics, health, food production, environmental protection, and the blue economy. This transformation strengthened my conviction that women can innovate, excel, and break new ground, even in sectors traditionally dominated by men.
Today, I am proud to be part of this experience, convinced that seaweed contributes to sustainability, economic development, and women’s empowerment, transforming passion into projects with real impact.”
Ilhem Bouhadouz:
“When I first entered the seaweed farming sector, I discovered an innovative field with tremendous potential that was still largely unknown in our region. Over time, however, I came to understand its significant scientific, environmental, and economic value. There is no doubt that seaweed represents a resource of the future, with multiple applications that deserve to be studied and promoted. Technical and specialised training, combined with perseverance, has been essential to the development of this project. Today, we are a pioneering cooperative in Morocco, made up of ten women who promote innovation, sustainability, and the valorisation of marine resources through our work in seaweed farming.”
The words of these women reflect the spirit of the I+DeAlgas project: a commitment to scientific knowledge, environmental sustainability, and, above all, to the transformative role of women in the blue economy of Morocco’s Oriental Region.