Twenty years ago, argan oil was sold by the side of road in Morocco for about $3 a gallon. International sales were virtually nonexistent.<br />These days, argan oil can cost as much as $300 per liter, making it the world's most expensive edible oil.<br />That's because the formation of women-run cooperatives has transformed the production into a billion-dollar industry.<br />Argan oil is predominantly used in high-end cosmetic products and Moroccan cuisine.<br />North Africans have been using the argan seeds for centuries, and Business Insider reports the methods for creating it haven't changed in years.<br />Mostly produced by hand, the demand for the oil has made it unaffordable for most. That's led to the sale of adulterated oil, enhanced with chemicals.
