This action aims to implement actions to support organic farming and agricultural practices concerned with human health and respect for the natural balance.
The National Union of Operators in the “BIO” sector is organizing a day of exchange and reflection on the local organic farming market on Thursday, February 9, which will take place at the Gaia therapeutic farm in Sidi Thabet. The initiative is organized in partnership with the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (Aics) – Adapt Program, funded by the European Union and with the support of the Club Atuge Durable of the Association of Tunisians of Grandes Ecoles and Center of International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development (CIRAD).
Over $110 billion
This meeting reflects the will of the parties, in the face of current climatic and health challenges, to implement actions aimed at supporting organic farming and agricultural practices concerned with human health and respect for the natural balance, to improve production systems with ecological awareness and to promote more responsible food consumption.
Indeed, current production models with intensive farming practices have made it possible to feed a rapidly growing world population in recent decades, to the detriment of natural resources. These limits have shown the urgency of a transition towards more resilient agro-ecological systems. Outside our borders, consumers are increasingly moving towards responsible consumption. Thus, products from organic farming are increasingly in demand. Between 2000 and 2018, on a global scale, the number of organic farms multiplied by 11.2 and the area cultivated organically by 4.6. In 2019, the value of the organic market exceeded $110 billion.
A slow pace…
In this international landscape, Tunisia is positioned as the world’s leading exporter of organic oil. It is also the first country in Africa in terms of areas dedicated to organic farming with 325,817 ha. On the Tunisian market, “organic” products are also booming: the distribution of products from organic farming has certainly been discreet but growing. Sector professionals consider, however, that this market is growing at a slow pace and that consumption remains low below the existing potential, in particular due to the high price and low availability of these products. Similarly, the Tunisian consumer’s lack of awareness of the negative impact of pesticides on their health and the environment also affects the evolution of demand.
The objective of the meeting is, therefore, to bring together all the players in the ecosystem of the organic sector in order to propose innovative solutions to develop the local market for organic products. Working groups for discussion and reflection will thus be organized within the framework of this meeting. A tasting break of organic products will also be on the program.
