Morocco is strategically investing in scientific research to bolster its industrial competitiveness and environmental sustainability.A key component of this effort centers around the work of Professor Youssef Habibi at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), where he leads research into lasting materials with applications ranging from agriculture to plastics recycling. This initiative is closely aligned with the OCP Group – a global leader in phosphate production and UM6P’s founding shareholder – and aims to forge a more circular and resilient economy for the nation and beyond.
As Moroccan industry seeks to balance competitiveness, sovereignty, and sustainability, scientific research is emerging as a key strategic asset. At UM6P, Professor Youssef Habibi is spearheading efforts to structure an approach to sustainable materials aligned with both national priorities and the major industrial shifts underway at the OCP Group.
Professor Habibi directs the Sustainable Materials Research Center (SUSMAT – UM6P) and holds the Chair of Sustainable Materials, leading research at the intersection of green chemistry, the circular economy, and industrial applications. This work directly supports the OCP Group’s sustainability and innovation strategy – a significant partnership with UM6P – particularly through the development of smart fertilizers, resource valorization, and the reduction of the environmental footprint of industrial processes. The OCP Group is a major global player in the phosphate industry, vital to agricultural production worldwide.
As Director of the Sustainable Materials Research Center (SUSMAT – UM6P), what is your role in guiding research on bio-based materials and green processes, and how does this work address the industrial and environmental challenges facing Morocco?
“My role, as Director of the Sustainable Materials Research Center and Chair of Sustainable Materials at UM6P (SUSMAT), is primarily to provide clear direction to research, aligning it with the concrete challenges Morocco faces,” Professor Habibi explained. “The goal is for science to genuinely contribute to the transition towards a more circular, leaner, and resilient economy, with a tangible impact on industrial practices and, consequently, on our economy.”
“This vision naturally aligns with the strategy of the OCP Group, the founding shareholder of UM6P, which places sustainability, innovation, and the responsible valorization of resources at the heart of its industrial model. Our work on bio-based materials, green processes, and the transformation of waste into secondary resources directly addresses these priorities, particularly in terms of optimizing inputs, reducing the carbon footprint, and circularity of value chains.”
“We start from a simple observation: Morocco has limited resources and is not an oil-producing country. It is therefore essential to make better use of what we have, by developing alternative materials, cleaner processes, and a new approach to waste, now considered secondary resources that can be reintegrated into new production cycles.”
“My role is also to create bridges between researchers, industrialists, and public decision-makers, but also between Morocco and the international community. Through our programs, notably GreenChemAfrica, the African School of Training in Green Chemistry and Environmental Sustainability – the first training of its kind in Africa, recognized and supported by the three major chemistry societies ACS, RSC and IUPAC – we are training a new generation of researchers and engineers capable of supporting industrial transformations, in Morocco and across the African continent.”
What are the main research projects you are currently leading within the Sustainable Materials Chair, and what concrete impact could they have on the ecological transition and the development of sustainable industries, in Morocco and internationally?
“Within the Sustainable Materials Chair, our projects revolve around a central question: how to move from a linear model, based on consumption and rejection, to a circular model based on reuse, transformation, and valorization of materials.”
“Our research focuses in particular on the design of sustainable materials from the outset, in order to anticipate their end-of-life, reduce their carbon footprint, and facilitate their recycling or reintegration into new value cycles. This approach is essential to meet industrial needs while respecting environmental requirements.”
“A flagship project currently concerns the recycling of plastics and their integration into previously unexplored value chains, paving the way for new industrial uses. Furthermore, we draw strong inspiration from the mechanisms of life to develop effective, economical, and circular solutions. It is in this context that we have developed smart fertilizers, in line with the strategic priorities of the OCP Group, aimed at improving the efficiency of resource use and reducing environmental losses.”
“The desired impact is very concrete. In Morocco, this work contributes to creating value from local resources, supporting the emergence of sustainable industrial sectors, and strengthening a form of technological sovereignty. Internationally, it fosters high-level collaborations and alignment with major global trends, while taking into account the specificities of each territory.”
