Tunisia prioritizes food security with focus on agricultural storage

Tunisia is prioritizing food security through critical investments in water management and agricultural storage, recognizing that national security depends on building these capabilities rather than purchasing them.

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Food security cannot be bought, it must be built.

The nation's current socioeconomic conditions underscore the urgency of addressing these two vital challenges. Food security is not merely a matter of acquisition; it is a process of construction. The storage of agricultural products is identified as the most critical link in the food supply chain, essential for navigating potential international disruptions and price hikes.

However, Tunisia confronts persistent structural obstacles. Its storage infrastructure remains inadequate, logistics are expensive, and market channels frequently suffer from recurring inefficiencies. Despite these hurdles, storage is viewed as a strategic lever for regulating market fluctuations, ensuring a stable supply of essential goods like cereals, and preserving harvests. It allows for the gradual commercialization of products without quality loss or supply interruptions.

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Storage is the most important link in our food chain.

Experts note that effective storage is increasingly vital amidst climate change, volatile global markets, and rising production costs. Furthermore, robust storage systems are a key tool in combating food waste, which the UN's FAO estimates affects over 13% of global food production between harvest and retail. Losses often occur during harvesting, handling, transport, and storage, particularly for fruits and vegetables.

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this function is all the more important in a context marked by climate change, international market fluctuations and rising production costs