Following up on some of the issues raised in HCSS’ 2012 report Risks and Opportunities in the Global Phosphate Rock Market, HCSS is currently exploring how The Netherlands and Morocco could turn mutual interdependence in the area of phosphate trade into an opportunity for cooperation on the basis of reciprocity.
Reciprocity allows the creation of win-win solutions for both phosphate producing and importing countries. This requires an inclusive strategy on the part of importers and producers to overcome key challenges in securing a sustainable and stable supply of phosphate, which is critical in light of the challenge of feeding a growing and wealthier world population.
The study will be undertaken in cooperation with OCP, the world’s leading exporter of phosphate. The goal of the visit is to identify salient interests and challenges related to phosphate and other related policy areas for the Netherlands and OCP, and which could present opportunities for working together. To this end, HCSS will conduct interviews with several stakeholders, including senior OCP staff, and meet with the Dutch ambassador. The interviews will help to substantiate the concepts and ideas HCSS is developing on this topic, and to support our findings with on-the-ground evidence and experience.
The HCSS delegation will also visit the Benguerir and Khouribga mining sites, as well as the Jorf Lasfar site. On February 25th , HCSS will attend the international Conference organized by the OCP Policy Center in partnership with the International Monetary Fund and New York University on “Food Price Volatility: Causes and Challenges” in Rabat.
The HCSS delegations consists of Marjolein de Ridder, Michel Rademaker and Willem Oosterveld.