Tunisia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries has confirmed the country's international leadership in the organic olive sector, an achievement that reflects the qualitative shift towards sustainable agriculture and the ability of Tunisian produce to compete in high-quality global value chains.
Record figures and indicators
This global lead rests on figures that reflect the scale of investment in the sector:
- Dedicated area: Tunisia ranks first worldwide with 144,000 hectares devoted to organic olive cultivation.
- Total organic area: Total land devoted to organic farming of all types has reached around 235,000 hectares.
- Sector participants: The sector comprises an integrated network of 6,270 operators, including producers, processors and exporters, ensuring the production chain is fully connected.
Export growth and international recognition
Tunisian organic exports have posted a marked jump, reaching a value of close to 750 million dinars in 2025. This success is attributed to:
- Growing demand in European and American markets.
- Mutual recognition agreements with the European Union, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, easing access for Tunisian produce to global markets.
- Favourable climatic conditions, accumulated technical expertise and rigorous control systems.
Strategic vision and challenges
Tunisia is working under a national strategy for 2020-2030 aimed at improving governance and raising quality, though the sector still faces obstacles the state is seeking to overcome, including:
- The need to raise productivity rates and develop logistics infrastructure.
- Moving from exporting raw materials to exporting high value-added products through processing and value creation.
Development prospects and model regions
The national strategy aims to turn organic farming into an engine of comprehensive development, by:
- Establishing model regions in Sejnane, Kesra, Haouaria, Majel Bel Abbes and Hazoua.
- Linking agriculture to parallel activities such as ecotourism and traditional crafts.
- Strengthening the credibility of the regulatory system to sustain international competitiveness.
