the argan tree produces a nut that when pressed releases argan oil that has many uses
also, the argan tree has deep roots that help prevent soil erosion and provides shade for other plants and animals
Unroasted argan oil is traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases and as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair:
"In cosmetics, argan oil is advocated as moisturizing oil, against[juvenile acne] and flaking of the skin as well as for [nourishing] thehair. This oil has also medicinal uses against rheumatism and thehealing of burns … Externally, argan oil is used … for hair asbrilliantine, to fortify and … in the treatment of wrinkled or scalydry skin".[SUP][12][/SUP]
Argan oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetic use. Thenumber of personal-care products on the US market with argan oil as aningredient increased from just two in 2007 to over one hundred by 2011.It is sometimes mixed with pomegranate seed oil due to its antioxidizing benefits,[SUP][13][/SUP][SUP][14][/SUP] with vendors promoting this blend as an all-in-one serum both for skin and hair.[SUP][15][/SUP] Argan oil is also sold without additives as a natural skincare and hair care product.[SUP][16][/SUP]
The increasing popularity of argan oil has prompted the Moroccangovernment to plan for increased production: its aim is to tripleannual production from approximately 2,500 - 4,000 tonnes by 2020.[SUP][17]
The production of argan oil is beginning to have noticeableenvironmental and social impacts. Argan oil production means that argantrees are now seen as a valuable resource. This has led to theirpreservation with a knock-on impact on the environment. Thelabour-intensive nature of argan oil production, now frequently carriedout by women’s co-operatives, has provided a steady income for manywomen and their families, improved the social status of some women andhas encouraged producers of other agricultural products to examine theco-operative model.
The Argan tree provides food, shelter and protection fromdesertification. The tree has deep roots which help prevent desertencroachment. The canopy of the argan tree also provides shade forother agricultural products and its leaves and fruit provide food foranimals.[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil#cite_note-onlinelibrary.wiley.com-7"][7][/SUP]
The argan tree also helps landscape stability, helping to preventsoil erosion, providing shade for pasture grasses and helping toreplenish aquifers.[SUP][18][/SUP]
Producing argan oil has helped to protect argan trees from being cutdown. In addition, regeneration of the Arganeraie has also been carriedout: in 2009 an operation to plant 4,300 argan plants was launched inMeskala in the province of Essaouira.[SUP][19][/SUP]
RARBA (Réseau des Associations de la Réserve de BiosphèreArganeraie, Network of Associations of the Argan Biosphere Reserve) wasfounded in 2002 with the aim of ensuring sustainable development in theArganeraie.[SUP][20][/SUP]
RARBA has been involved with several major projects, including theMoroccan national anti-desertification programme (Programme National deLutte contre la desertification (PAN/LCD)). The project involved localpopulations and helped with improvements to basic infrastructure,management of natural resources, revenue generating activities(including argan oil production), capacity reinforcement and others.[SUP][21]
The production of argan oil has always had a socio-economicfunction. At present, argan oil production supports approximately 2.2million people in the main argan oil producing region (the Arganeraie).[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil#cite_note-GLS-17"][17][/SUP]
Much of the argan oil produced today is made by a number of women'sco-operatives. Co-sponsored by the Social Development Agency (SDA) withthe support of the European Union, the UCFA (Union des Cooperatives desFemmes de l’Arganeraie) is the largest union of argan oil co-operativesin Morocco. It comprises twenty-two co-operatives that are found inother parts of the region (e.g., Coopérative Al Amal, CoopérativeAmalou N'Touyag, Coopérative Tissaliwine, Coopérative ArganSense, andCoopérative Maouriga).[SUP][22][/SUP]
Employment in the co-operatives provides women with an income, whichmany have used to fund education for themselves or their children. Ithas also provided them with a degree of autonomy in a traditionallymale-dominated society and has helped many become more aware of theirrights.[SUP][23][/SUP]
The success of the argan co-operatives has also encouraged otherproducers of agricultural products to adopt the co-operative model.[SUP][24][/SUP]
The establishment of the co-operatives has been aided by supportfrom within Morocco, notably the Fondation Mohamed VI pour la Rechercheet la Sauvegarde de l’Arganier (Mohammed VI Foundation for Research andProtection of the Argan Tree,[SUP][25][/SUP] and from international organisations, including Canada’s International Development Research Centre[SUP][26][/SUP] and the European Commission.[SUP][23][/SUP]
Funding has enabled technical support for the production andmarketing of argan oil and for technical, professional and personaldevelopment of the women involved in the co-operatives.[SUP][26[/SUP][SUP]][/SUP]
[/URL][/SUP]
[/URL][/SUP]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil
also, the argan tree has deep roots that help prevent soil erosion and provides shade for other plants and animals
Unroasted argan oil is traditionally used as a treatment for skin diseases and as a cosmetic oil for skin and hair:
"In cosmetics, argan oil is advocated as moisturizing oil, against[juvenile acne] and flaking of the skin as well as for [nourishing] thehair. This oil has also medicinal uses against rheumatism and thehealing of burns … Externally, argan oil is used … for hair asbrilliantine, to fortify and … in the treatment of wrinkled or scalydry skin".[SUP][12][/SUP]
Argan oil has become increasingly popular for cosmetic use. Thenumber of personal-care products on the US market with argan oil as aningredient increased from just two in 2007 to over one hundred by 2011.It is sometimes mixed with pomegranate seed oil due to its antioxidizing benefits,[SUP][13][/SUP][SUP][14][/SUP] with vendors promoting this blend as an all-in-one serum both for skin and hair.[SUP][15][/SUP] Argan oil is also sold without additives as a natural skincare and hair care product.[SUP][16][/SUP]
The increasing popularity of argan oil has prompted the Moroccangovernment to plan for increased production: its aim is to tripleannual production from approximately 2,500 - 4,000 tonnes by 2020.[SUP][17]
The production of argan oil is beginning to have noticeableenvironmental and social impacts. Argan oil production means that argantrees are now seen as a valuable resource. This has led to theirpreservation with a knock-on impact on the environment. Thelabour-intensive nature of argan oil production, now frequently carriedout by women’s co-operatives, has provided a steady income for manywomen and their families, improved the social status of some women andhas encouraged producers of other agricultural products to examine theco-operative model.
The Argan tree provides food, shelter and protection fromdesertification. The tree has deep roots which help prevent desertencroachment. The canopy of the argan tree also provides shade forother agricultural products and its leaves and fruit provide food foranimals.[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil#cite_note-onlinelibrary.wiley.com-7"][7][/SUP]
The argan tree also helps landscape stability, helping to preventsoil erosion, providing shade for pasture grasses and helping toreplenish aquifers.[SUP][18][/SUP]
Producing argan oil has helped to protect argan trees from being cutdown. In addition, regeneration of the Arganeraie has also been carriedout: in 2009 an operation to plant 4,300 argan plants was launched inMeskala in the province of Essaouira.[SUP][19][/SUP]
RARBA (Réseau des Associations de la Réserve de BiosphèreArganeraie, Network of Associations of the Argan Biosphere Reserve) wasfounded in 2002 with the aim of ensuring sustainable development in theArganeraie.[SUP][20][/SUP]
RARBA has been involved with several major projects, including theMoroccan national anti-desertification programme (Programme National deLutte contre la desertification (PAN/LCD)). The project involved localpopulations and helped with improvements to basic infrastructure,management of natural resources, revenue generating activities(including argan oil production), capacity reinforcement and others.[SUP][21]
The production of argan oil has always had a socio-economicfunction. At present, argan oil production supports approximately 2.2million people in the main argan oil producing region (the Arganeraie).[SUP][URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil#cite_note-GLS-17"][17][/SUP]
Much of the argan oil produced today is made by a number of women'sco-operatives. Co-sponsored by the Social Development Agency (SDA) withthe support of the European Union, the UCFA (Union des Cooperatives desFemmes de l’Arganeraie) is the largest union of argan oil co-operativesin Morocco. It comprises twenty-two co-operatives that are found inother parts of the region (e.g., Coopérative Al Amal, CoopérativeAmalou N'Touyag, Coopérative Tissaliwine, Coopérative ArganSense, andCoopérative Maouriga).[SUP][22][/SUP]
Employment in the co-operatives provides women with an income, whichmany have used to fund education for themselves or their children. Ithas also provided them with a degree of autonomy in a traditionallymale-dominated society and has helped many become more aware of theirrights.[SUP][23][/SUP]
The success of the argan co-operatives has also encouraged otherproducers of agricultural products to adopt the co-operative model.[SUP][24][/SUP]
The establishment of the co-operatives has been aided by supportfrom within Morocco, notably the Fondation Mohamed VI pour la Rechercheet la Sauvegarde de l’Arganier (Mohammed VI Foundation for Research andProtection of the Argan Tree,[SUP][25][/SUP] and from international organisations, including Canada’s International Development Research Centre[SUP][26][/SUP] and the European Commission.[SUP][23][/SUP]
Funding has enabled technical support for the production andmarketing of argan oil and for technical, professional and personaldevelopment of the women involved in the co-operatives.[SUP][26[/SUP][SUP]][/SUP]
[/URL][/SUP]
[/URL][/SUP]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argan_oil