Ambitious Project Launched to Develop Rapeseed Industry in Tunisia
A collaborative project between the Tunisian Association for Sustainable Agriculture (APAD), the French Association for Vegetable Oils and Proteins (AGROPOL), and the French Development Agency (AFD) aims to structure and develop the rapeseed industry in Tunisia. This two-year project, financed by a €600,000 grant from France through the FEXTE (Technical Expertise and Experience Exchange Fund) and a €228,000 contribution from AGROPOL, will focus on four main axes:
- Creating an information system for the rapeseed industry
- Promoting constructive dialogue among stakeholders
- Developing a development plan and defining priority actions for expansion
This initiative is part of the Franco-Tunisian partnership agreement signed in June 2021, which aims to strengthen cooperation in the areas of agriculture, rural development, and agri-food. The project's objective is to support Tunisia's food sovereignty and promote more resilient agriculture in the face of climate and economic challenges.
Rapeseed, which currently represents an annual production of around 20,000 tons in Tunisia, plays a key role in crop diversification and adapting farms to climate change. The signing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the French Ambassador to Tunisia, Anne Guguen, the Tunisian Director General of Agricultural Production, Ezzedine Chalghaf, and the AFD's North Africa Regional Director, Cécile Couprie. This partnership highlights France and Tunisia's commitment to collaborating on modernizing Tunisia's agricultural sector and addressing sustainability and food security challenges.
