Sustainability First
Every decision we make is filtered through its environmental impact. From our closed-loop water recycling to our composting of residual biomass, we ensure that our operations regenerate rather than deplete.
About us
From a question nobody asked, to an industrial platform.
Our story
From the fertile plains of Kenitra.
In the fertile plains of Kenitra, Morocco, banana farmers have cultivated their land for generations. But for decades, one critical question remained unanswered: what happens to the thousands of tons of pseudostems and trunks left behind after each harvest?
Traditionally, this biomass was burned or left to rot — releasing harmful emissions, degrading soil health, and wasting a precious natural resource.
Mohamed El Amali, a young Moroccan entrepreneur with a deep respect for his agricultural heritage, saw what others overlooked. He recognized that the banana plant, revered for its fruit, held an even greater secret within its fibers — fibers strong enough to replace synthetic textiles, flexible enough for eco-construction, and pure enough to yield high-value nanocellulose.
In 2023, Mohamed founded BANANCO (African Natural Fiber) with a bold mission: to build Morocco's first integrated biorefinery dedicated to banana biomass valorization. What began as a small-scale experiment in a modest workshop in the Gharb-Chrarda region has evolved into a pioneering industrial venture, backed by international institutions, government support, and a consortium of 14 sophisticated impact investors.
Today, BANANCO stands at the intersection of tradition and innovation — honoring the ancestral knowledge of Moroccan farmers while deploying cutting-edge biotechnology to create a new generation of sustainable industrial materials.
Vision & Mission
Vision
To become Africa's leading integrated biorefinery company, transforming agricultural waste into high-value sustainable materials, and proving that traditional knowledge, when combined with modern innovation, can drive a just transition to a circular, low-carbon economy.
Mission
We transform banana agricultural waste into industrial fibers, nanocellulose, bioethanol, paper pulp, and eco-construction materials through a zero-waste biorefinery model — creating economic value for farmers, environmental benefits for the planet, and industrial solutions for a sustainable future.
Our values
The Principles That Guide Us
Farmer-Centric Growth
Our farmers are not suppliers — they are partners. By monetizing their agricultural “waste,” we provide them with 5,000-15,000 MAD in supplementary annual income, strengthening rural economies and preventing urban migration.
Innovation With Integrity
We combine cold plasma technology, nanocellulose extraction, and digital monitoring with traditional agricultural wisdom. Innovation must serve people and planet, not just profit.
Cultural Preservation
We document and integrate over 20 traditional banana farming practices into our modern processes, ensuring that ancestral knowledge is not lost but elevated for future generations.
Decent Work & Dignity
Aligned with UN ILO standards and the GIZ “Decent Work for a Just Transition” initiative, we create formal, safe, and well-compensated green jobs that restore dignity to rural labor.
Leadership
Guiding our operations, strategic scaling, and material science breakthroughs.
Mohamed El Amali
Founder & CEO
Born and raised in Morocco, Mohamed El Amali is the visionary behind BANANCO's pioneering biorefinery model. With a deep-rooted connection to Morocco's agricultural heritage and a forward-looking mindset shaped by modern industrial engineering, he has dedicated his career to solving one of the most pressing challenges in tropical agriculture: the valorization of banana biomass.
Recognized by the United Nations ILO as a model for green entrepreneurship under Morocco's “Generation Green 2020-2030” strategy, Mohamed has navigated the journey from startup to scalable industrial venture. Under his leadership, BANANCO has secured strategic partnerships with the UN ILO, GIZ, INDH, and Cluster VALBIOM MAROC, and has attracted over 1.1 million MAD in equity investment from a consortium of 14 sophisticated impact investors.
His work bridges traditional agricultural knowledge with modern biotechnology, creating solutions that generate value for farmers, industry, and the environment. When he is not overseeing biorefinery operations or meeting with partner farmers, he mentors young agricultural entrepreneurs through the CRJEA and advocates for policy reforms supporting the circular bio-economy in Africa.
“Traditional knowledge is not a relic of the past. It is the foundation on which we can build a more sustainable future.”
Khadija Khartit
Lead Investor & Strategic Advisor
Khadija Khartit is the lead investor in BANANCO through the MFounders investor consortium, and supports the company's strategic growth through Sohaara Ventures.
With a background spanning strategic corporate finance, entrepreneurship, education, and venture development, she works closely with BANANCO on strategy, partnerships, investor relations, and long-term scaling initiatives.
Through Sohaara's network, expertise, and capabilities, she helps connect BANANCO to the resources, from around the world, needed to accelerate its vision and impact.
“Prosperity grows when innovation, opportunity, and human potential come together to solve meaningful problems.”
Our journey
Timeline
2023The Foundation
- BANANCO (African Natural Fiber) officially established in Kenitra
- Secured 500,000 MAD grant from INDH to build our first industrial fiber extraction unit
- Began partnerships with 25 local banana farmers
2024Recognition & Incubation
- Won the First Regional Prize (Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region) — 30,000 MAD Award for Agricultural Innovation
- Selected for Cluster VALBIOM MAROC's “INNOV INDUS 2024” program
- Received 8,000 MAD R&D grant for biomass valorization prototyping
- Featured by the United Nations ILO as an international success story for green entrepreneurship
- Recognized under Morocco's “Generation Green 2020-2030” strategy
2025National Excellence
- Won the First National Prize — 100,000 MAD Award from Attijariwafa Bank for Entrepreneurial Excellence
- Awarded GIZ/sequa grant (up to €6,000 + 100% technical assistance) under the BMZ “Invest for Jobs” initiative
- Procurement of specialized paper-making equipment: hydro-pulper, beater machines, calendaring machines
- Committed to creating 39 green full- and part-time jobs within 12 months
- Launched nanocellulose and bioethanol R&D programs
2026Strategic Investment
- Secured 1,102,500 MAD equity investment from a consortium of 14 strategic investors (MFOUDERS)
- Company valuation: 8.3 million MAD (pre-money)
- Transformation into SAS (Société par Actions Simplifiée)
- Establishment of Strategic Committee for governance excellence
- Expansion of farmer partnership network to 500+ farmers
2027+The Vision Ahead
- Scale biomass processing to 10,000 tons/year
- Launch satellite biorefinery units in 3 regions
- Pilot biorefinery model with pineapple, sugarcane, and palm residues
- Enter Southern European and international B2B markets
- Achieve 10x revenue growth and 80+ direct green jobs
The Bananco Visual Archive
Authentic photography from our plantations, processing facilities, laboratories, and award ceremonies.
Our Ecosystem of Support
Built on a powerful ecosystem.
BANANCO's success is built on a powerful ecosystem of institutional, governmental, and private sector partners who share our vision for a sustainable future:
United Nations ILO & CRJEA
Capacity building, green entrepreneurship coaching, and international recognition under the “Generation Green” strategy.
GIZ & sequa (Germany)
Equipment grants and technical assistance under the BMZ “Invest for Jobs” initiative, supporting decent green job creation.
INDH
Government grant of 500,000 MAD for rural industrial infrastructure and community empowerment.
Cluster VALBIOM MAROC
Industrial incubation, R&D support, and prototyping facilities for biomass valorization and eco-construction.
M Founders & Strategic Investors
Equity investment and strategic governance from 14 leading impact investors including Helios Capital, Jim Invest, IB Participations, and D2BO Holding.
Attijariwafa Bank
National recognition and 100,000 MAD award for entrepreneurial excellence, validating BANANCO's position as a leader in Morocco's bio-economy transition.
Call to action
Join Us in Building a Circular Future
Whether you're an industrial client seeking sustainable raw materials, an investor looking to support Africa's bio-economy, or a farmer interested in joining our partnership network — we invite you to be part of the BANANCO story.