SGS extends its seed and crop testing capabilities in Morocco

With the acquisition of Laboratoire LCA, SGS extends its analytical services capabilities – including soil fertility testing – for the agricultural sector in Morocco.

Founded as a privately owned company in 2004 and based in Casablanca, Laboratoire LCA employs 18 people, is ISO 17025 accredited and recognized by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture.

Addressing all types of agriculture from crops to vegetables, the lab provides agronomic analysis and expert recommendations in relation to soil, water and leaves. Additionally, it provides flow measurement and environmental analysis of waste water. The acquisition builds on SGS’s current capabilities in Morocco for Precision Farming Services (PFS), fertigation monitoring services and pesticide residue analyses.

Morocco is geographically and climatically diverse, from mountainous territory in the north, extensive coastline to the west and desert conditions in the south. SGS’s local expertise means that services can be tailored to a specific crop and the growing conditions of the local area.

Agriculture is important to Morocco’s economy. Under the country’s green plan and 2020 Vision, production of citrus fruits, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, olives and vegetables is set to grow some 30% by 2020 (from a 2013/14 baseline).

Abdelmalek El Kanit, SGS Business Manager, comments: “This acquisition is an ideal complement to our existing services for the Moroccan agriculture market, including precision farming, fertigation monitoring and soil services. It also fits well into our existing international network of seed and crop facilities.”