A major shift is underway in Morocco’s industrial and agricultural future. In March 2025, OCP Nutricrops, a subsidiary of global phosphate fertilizer giant OCP Group, unveiled a landmark investment as part of its Strategic Program Mzinda-Meskala (SP2M). The plan includes the development of two new mining and industrial hubs in Mzinda (Youssoufia) and Meskala (Essaouira), with a bold objective: ramp up fertilizer production to 9 million tons annually by 2028, with half of that capacity—4.5 million tons—expected as early as 2026.
This expansion strengthens OCP Nutricrops’ leading position in the customized fertilizer sector, particularly with its TSP and TSP+ products, which are tailored to meet specific crop and soil needs. But more than a numbers game, this effort reflects a broader ambition: to accelerate the company’s green transition and support farmers around the world in adopting more sustainable, high-performing agricultural practices.
“These new facilities will become a global benchmark in customized fertilizer production,” said Youssef El Bari, CEO of OCP Nutricrops, emphasizing the transformative potential of the project.
The Mzinda and Meskala sites are designed to be showcases of sustainable innovation. They will run entirely on renewable energy—primarily solar and wind—and rely on non-conventional water sources through desalination and wastewater recycling. Built on the principles of Industry 5.0, these plants will integrate artificial intelligence, automation, and advanced digital technologies to enable smarter, scalable, and resilient production systems.
But SP2M is more than an industrial project—it’s a regional development engine. In partnership with the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), innovation hub INNOVX, and engineering firm JESA, the initiative is building a new economic ecosystem around the two hubs. The focus is on nurturing local talent, empowering youth, encouraging circular resource use, and attracting new domestic and international partners to the region.
Abdelghani Filali, Managing Director of SP2M, summed up the vision: “The Mzinda and Meskala projects reflect our ambition to turn these regions into globally competitive hubs while creating lasting opportunities for local communities.”
With SP2M, OCP Nutricrops is proving that industrial expansion can go hand-in-hand with sustainability, innovation, and inclusion. The program is closely aligned with OCP Group’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and responds directly to the global shifts transforming agriculture: rising demand for fertilizers, depleted soils in need of regeneration, and increasing pressure to lower environmental impact.
