Tunisia: closing of the CIHEAM Bari project ‘Preliminary Actions for the Establishment of Tunisian Bioterritories

The closing seminar of the project ‘Preliminary Actions for the Establishment of Tunisian Bioterritories’ was held in Tunis. The project, financed by the Italian Cooperation with 1 million euro for a period of 24 months, has seen the participation of about a thousand people, including entrepreneurs in the organic sector, officials of the relevant public institutions, operators of complementary sectors and civil society organisations.

The overall objective of the project, which started in November 2022, was to promote local development to support productive activities, services, employment, entrepreneurship, creativity, and innovation, favouring the formalisation and development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises through the valorisation of genetic and natural resources and local know-how.

Five pilot areas specialised in production and services in line with organic farming principles were created through a pre-feasibility analysis and the definition of the mechanisms necessary for their activation. The five pilot bio-territories were established in the following locations: Haouaria, in the Governorate of Nabeul; Sejnane, in the Governorate of Bizerte; Kesra, in the Governorate of Siliana; Majel Bel Abbes, in the Governorate of Kasserine; and Hazoua, in the Governorate of Tozeur.

The initiative was implemented by the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies – CIHEAM Bari, in collaboration with the Direction Générale de l’Agriculture Biologique – DGAB, of the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Hydrauliques et de la Pêche Maritime – MARHPM.

The project closing seminar was attended by the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries, Hamadi Habaieb, H.E. the Ambassador of Italy, Alessandro Prunas, the Director of CIHEAM Bari, Maurizio Raeli, the Deputy Director of CIHEAM Bari, Biagio Di Terlizzi, the Acting Director of the AICS Regional Office in Tunisia, Annamaria Meligrana, the Director General of the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – IFOAM Europe, Eduardo Cuoco, and the Director General of MARHPM DGAB, Khaled Sassi.

Other participants included the representative of the Ministry of Economy and Planning, Emna Araar, the head of the IRESA Presidency, Professor Zohra Lili Chabaane, the Agricultural Development Commissioners of the five pilot sites involved in the project, and representatives of the Italian biodistricts of Cilento, Via Amerina and Forre, Lame and Val di Vara.

In his opening speech, Hamadi Habaieb, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, emphasised the importance of organic farming as a sustainable and competitive agricultural system that can elevate Tunisia’s position on the world stage in organic production and increase exports of high quality Tunisian organic products. He also said that the development of Tunisian bio-territories can stimulate local social and economic growth, protect the environment, preserve biodiversity and strengthen the local, regional and national economy, improving the living conditions of communities and offering young people attractive job opportunities.

H.E. the Ambassador of Italy, Alessandro Prunas, stressed the importance of supporting the creation of Tunisian bio-territories as part of an approach to promote an integrated and equitable rural development model. This initiative encourages collaboration between producers, institutions and local communities, with the aim of improving the quality and competitiveness of products in local and international markets.

The director of CIHEAM in Bari, Maurizio Raeli, emphasised how this initiative, based on a holistic approach, has made it possible to draw up guidelines for the creation of new bio-territories in Tunisia, the first country on the African continent to adopt this innovative approach, already successfully tested in Italy.

For her part, Annamaria Meligrana, acting director of the AICS in Tunis, emphasised that this project is emblematic for a number of reasons, particularly in terms of supporting and promoting sustainable and creative entrepreneurship. The Italian Cooperation remains committed to supporting the operators of biodistricts and intends to create a system of technical and financial support that will enable the pilot areas to develop further on the model of the Italian experience of biodistricts.

The Director General of IFOAM Europe, Eduardo Cuoco, emphasised the enormous potential of bioterritories for sustainable rural development, bringing organic producers closer to their communities, the local population and civil society.

DGAB Director General Khaled Sassi emphasised that bioterritories encourage innovative forms of local resource sustainability through the participation of all sectors involved. This project has also helped to develop the five pilot areas, identified since 2014 through a preliminary study financed by the budget of the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries. In addition, key factors were identified for the development of the rural fabric and the creation of employment opportunities for young people and women in rural areas, particularly within professional structures such as cooperative enterprises or SMSAs and GDAs.

The ‘Preliminary actions for the creation of Tunisian bio-territories’ project made it possible to identify a governance system for the five pilot areas and to promote and define tools to support the actors in the identified sectors. This initiative aims to become a concrete example for the creation of other bioterritories in the country and the region.

Source: CIHEAM Bari