On September 24, 2026, Tunisian Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fishing, Azeddine Ben Sheikh, inaugurated a national dialogue workshop on developing, valorizing, and sustaining the olive oil system in Tunisia. The event, organized by the General Directorate of Agricultural Production, was attended by representatives from public institutions, professional organizations, international organizations, financial institutions, experts, and various stakeholders in the sector. The workshop aims to develop a comprehensive vision for the olive oil sector, aligning with the country's strategic goals.
The olive oil sector holds significant importance in Tunisia's national economy, with olive groves covering over 2.1 million hectares, approximately 42% of the country's arable land. The sector supports around 309,000 agricultural exploitations, providing a direct or indirect source of income for a large segment of the population. Tunisia's olive oil production reached 500,000 tons in the 2025/2026 season, a 47% increase from the previous season. Exports also rose by 50.8% to 381.2 thousand tons, with organic olive oil exports reaching 53 thousand tons.
Minister Azeddine Ben Sheikh emphasized the need to continue working on increasing the added value of olive oil products, enhancing their competitiveness, and positioning them in global markets. This can be achieved through quality development, market diversification, and promoting packaged products with added value. The government has implemented policies and measures to support producers, encourage investment in plantations, and improve quality and exports.
The workshop focused on four main themes: olive production and resilience to climate change, transformation and valorization of quality and agricultural by-products, markets and added value, and governance and partnership between the public and private sectors. The event aimed to establish a participatory dialogue among stakeholders, enabling the exchange of ideas, identification of challenges, and development of practical proposals to support the sector's sustainability and competitiveness.
The olive oil sector contributes around 10% to Tunisia's agricultural production value and approximately 44% to the country's agricultural exports. The sector's annual export volume has averaged 212 thousand tons over the past five years. Minister Ben Sheikh highlighted the government's efforts to support the sector, including presidential decisions and the outcomes of national olive councils and ministerial meetings.
The Ministry of Agriculture has prepared a plan to develop the olive oil sector within the 2026-2030 agricultural and maritime fishing development plan. The plan aims to enhance the sector's resilience to climate change, improve resource efficiency, and promote production and transformation techniques. The minister emphasized the need for a long-term vision, taking into account global economic trends and the specificities of national production systems.
The national dialogue workshop on olive oil sector development concluded with a call for collaboration among stakeholders, including the government, producers, professionals, industrialists, exporters, and partners. The goal is to strengthen Tunisia's position in global markets, preserve the sector's economic, social, and environmental role, and support national development and food security.
Key points
- The Tunisian government aims to develop a comprehensive vision for the olive oil sector, aligning with the country's strategic goals and enhancing its competitiveness in global markets.
