Western Sahara's phosphate: from disputed lands to your plate

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Western Sahara is a territory south of Morocco on the Atlantic Coast. A former Spanish colony (until 1975), its coastline is rich in fish and its land abounds in minerals, their most prized mineral: phosphate.

It’s estimated that Morocco and Western Sahara combined hold at least 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves.

A key ingredient in industrial fertiliser, our dependence on industrialised farming is driving intensive phosphate mining and destroying our local ecosystems as a result. One of the biggest phosphate mines in operation is in Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara.

Morocco’s continued occupation of Western Sahara since 1975 is undoubtedly driven by its desire to hold on and continue mining this lucrative yet finite resource.

Often called Africa’s Last Colony, Moroccan occupation, taking place since Spain withdrew after 100 years of colonisation, has been fraught with violence, displacement and countless human rights violations.

Morocco has repeatedly ignored UN recommendations to offer the Sahrawi people a referendum on self-determination.

Meanwhile, thousands upon thousands of Sahrawis have fled into neighbouring Algeria where they continue to live as refugees. A wall, the longest in the world, heavily guarded and peppered with landmines, separates the occupied territory from the “free zone”.

Phosphate will eventually run out. And our overuse of industrial farming will lead to food scarcity down the line.

What is not finite is the resolve and the resilience of the Saharawi people.

We tell the story of one refugee, born and raised in the camps, leading a farming project and growing their own fruit and vegetables in the middle of the desert.

For these refugees, growing food locally and sustainably is not just an act of survival, but also defiance.

Michele is a filmmaker, farmer and environmentalist. Farida is a writer, teacher and supporter of the Western Sahara cause since 2020. Together, they combine their talents for visual and oral storytelling, as well as their passions for human and environmental causes. With a long form documentary film on the subject in the pipeline, they hope to spread this important message to as many people as possible, because the Western Sahara story is one that affects us all.

A film by Stezzo Films and Left Wild
filmmaker Michele Vicenti
produced by Michele Vicenti and Farida F. Alvarez
writer and VO artist Farida F. Alvarez
video editing and motion graphics Michele Vicenti
music
“She Swims”, “Unmasking”, “Arrival”, “Across the Prairie” by James Jimmi King
“Desert Voices” by Tobu
“Didima” Performed by AVA Trio, written by Giuseppe Doronzo, courtesy of TORA Records
Saharawi people performing traditional music
Mixkit.co

Footage:
Abidin Kaid Saleh
Africanews
AFP
Al Jazeera
ANI News
AP
Business Insider
CBNC
CGTN America
Channel 4 News
CMA CGM
Conflict News World Viral
Earth Observatory, NASA
Euronews
Farmaroc
France 24
GACDmedia
Growing Hope
Jouneyman.tv
Tre.Ca.Sma Association
Lancaster Environment Centre
Ma’aden
Nutrien
OCP group
Parallel Zero
PBS
RASDtv
Emma Brown Photography
Olive Branch Arts
RSI Info
Saharawi Voice
Space Films
The Hui
The Tim Traveller
UNED
UNHCR
Western Sahara Support Group
Western Sahara Resource Watch
Pexel videos

Special thanks to:
Andy and Western Sahara Support Group, Danielle and all the team Sandblast Arts, Maxine, Emma Brown and Olive Branch Arts, the wonderful Fatematou and all the team Growing Hope, Mohamedsalem and Saharawi Voice, Héctor Bujari Santorum, Giacomo, Matilda, Daniela, the Gunton Road allies, Miguel.

(CC) 2025