Cactus Innov: A Competition to Promote Innovation in the Prickly Pear Industry
The Interprofessional Group of Fruits (GIFruits), with the support of the Project for Access to Markets for Agri-Food and Terroir Products (Pampat), has launched the first edition of the "Cactus Innov" competition, dedicated to the best innovation for the valorization of the prickly pear.
Objective of the Competition
This competition aims to encourage innovative initiatives throughout the cactus value chain, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of this sector on local and international markets, according to a statement released by the organizers on Friday. This approach is part of the national strategy for the valorization and promotion of terroir products, launched in 2022 by the Ministry of Agriculture, supported by the Pampat project, which highlights the prickly pear as an emblematic product, particularly in the pilot regions of Nabeul and Kairouan.
Eligibility and Application Process
The competition is open to all Tunisian companies working on innovative projects related to the valorization of the prickly pear cactus and represented by a manager. The competition covers several areas:
- Innovative agri-food products
- Cosmetics (including extracts and active principles tested and marketed)
- Other products inspired by the cactus
Applications must be submitted by December 10, 2025, at 4:30 PM to the central office of GIFruits. Application files can be downloaded from the GIFruits website.
Growth of the Prickly Pear Industry
Since its launch in 2013 with five pioneering companies in central Tunisia, the prickly pear sector now includes over 70 industrial companies across the country. This growth has generated hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, demonstrating the strong potential of this crop for the local market and export.
Valorization of the Prickly Pear
The prickly pear is valorized through various sectors:
- Gastronomy
- Experiential tourism (including the production of massage oils based on prickly pear seed oil)
- Crafts and design, which draw inspiration from the cactus to create original and innovative products.
