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As part of the activities of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture related to the technical support of organic farmers, a field visit was conducted on April 24, 2026, at the "Aloe Olea" organic farm, located in Takelsa, Nabeul Governorate.
A joint inspection was carried out in the presence of representatives from the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture : Salaheddine Souguir and Leila Ladheri, along with a professor from the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Tunisia. They examined the Aloe Vera crops and provided the necessary technical advice to ensure high-quality production.
Thursday, April 23, 2026: Follow up of a trial in organic farm of Mr. Anoir Ayari in Gaafour of the Governorate of Siliana, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) and the Regional Commissioner of Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Siliana.
The trial consists on studying the fertilization of organic oil olive tree (Variety: Chetoui).
Durant cette journée, le diagnostic de la floraison et le prélèvement des échantillons du sol, selon le protocole de l’essai, pour analyse, ont été réalisés.
Follow-up and supervision realized by:
- Youssef Amor: CTAB.
Within the framework of strengthening international cooperation between the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture and the Tunisian Association of Medicinal Plants on one hand, and Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine on the other, and in order to reinforce institutional integration between the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Maritime Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, along with all their technical and research structures, the Chinese delegation—led by the Director of Jiangxi University and comprising several experts and researchers from the university—was received by the Director General of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture, the President of the Medicinal Plants Association, as well as several center executives, researchers, and professors in the field of pharmacology.
During the meeting, the activities of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture were introduced, along with its experience in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants. The richness of Tunisia's national genetic heritage in medicinal plants was also highlighted, and avenues for cooperation were explored toward concluding a tripartite agreement regulating the entire production, collection, and drying chain of organic medicinal and aromatic plants in Tunisia, in accordance with applicable health and pharmaceutical standards and regulations.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited the center's experimental station, where they were briefed on the center's work in cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants.
This meeting represented a valuable opportunity for expertise exchange between the Tunisian and Chinese parties, and a gateway to strengthening joint cooperation between the structures under the two ministries. The aim is to ensure that production stages align with quality and health safety standards, thereby enhancing the quality of these plants and improving the economic and scientific returns of their active compounds, within a unified national vision that combines agricultural sustainability with health-oriented valorization.
Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Visitors: A group of 1st-year Professional Master's students in Food Technology from the Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia.
Subject: Presentation of the fundamentals and principles of organic farming, and a visit to a laboratory for the analysis of pesticide residues and contaminants.
Supervision: Salaheddine SOUGUIR & Dalel MELKI.
Monday, April 20, 2026: follow-up of a trial in organic Farm of Mr. Hana Ben Hrise in Tabarka of the Governorate of Jendouba, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) and the Regional Commissioner of Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Jendouba
The trial consists of studying the adaptation of the seasonal cherry tomato crop for biodynamic farming.
During this day, the spreading of the compost then the planting crop and spreading of the preparation 500 according the trial protocol was carried out.
Follow-up and supervision realized by:
- Youssef Amor: CTAB.
- Sana Othmani: CRDA Jendouba.
As part of the implementation of its work program on communication strategies and its active presence in national events, the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture successfully participated in the 16th edition of the International Organic Agriculture and Food Industries Salon, held at the headquarters of UTICA (Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts) in Tunis, from April 16 to 18, 2026.
This participation aimed to consolidate the Center's role as a reference hub in the field of organic agriculture, through:
- Showcasing its missions and activities, and strengthening its position as a strategic partner in supporting the transition toward sustainable production systems.
- Promoting the principles and foundations of organic agriculture among farmers, professionals, and consumers, in alignment with the national guidelines led by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries.
- Enhancing the Center's visibility at the national level by opening channels of dialogue with stakeholders in the organic value chain and attracting new partnerships that foster innovation and knowledge transfer.
- Welcoming visitors—including professionals, farmers, students, and consumers—and addressing their inquiries through the Center's specialized staff, thereby reinforcing trust in the Tunisian organic label and opening avenues for field-level collaboration.
Within the framework of the scientific activities organized on the sidelines of the Salon, the Center delivered high-quality contributions reflecting its commitment to inclusivity and education on conscious consumption:
🔹 Intervention scientifique sur le genre : Mme Faten Ksouri Mansour a présenté une communication intitulée « Le genre dans les interventions du Centre Technique de l'Agriculture Biologique », dans le cadre de l'atelier « La femme rurale et l'agriculture biologique : un levier pour la transition vers une agriculture durable ». Elle a mis en lumière le rôle essentiel des femmes dans la chaîne de valeur biologique ainsi que les efforts du Centre pour leur encadrement et formation technique et économique.
🔹 Interactive children's workshop and organic product tasting: Mr. Hatem Chehidi facilitated an educational workshop for children, combining awareness-raising on the importance of healthy eating with the direct tasting of Tunisian organic products—a proactive initiative aimed at instilling a culture of responsible consumption in younger generations.
This participation marked a major milestone in advancing the Center's strategic vision for promoting organic products and consolidating its role as a bridge between scientific research and applied research. It also contributed to expanding its partner network, raising greater awareness among civil society of the benefits of organic production and consumption, and reinforcing Tunisia's position as a promising destination in the sustainable organic food industry sector.
Mr. Youssef Amor General Engineer and Director of Experimentation and Communication at the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) participated in a workshop on " biodynamic Agriculture" for the benefit of a group of farmers and technicians. This workshop was organised by the « Tunisian Association of Biodynamic Agriculture » and conducted as part of the project "Skills Acquisition and Development for Strengthening Biodynamic Agriculture in Tunisia," implemented by GOPA AFC in collaboration with Merckens Development Support GmbH.
This project is an initiative of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) program "Alliance for Product Quality in Africa".
Date and place : 14 April 2026 at the Biodynamic exploitation of Mr. Naceur Elkotti in Blettech - Elhencha Gouvernorate of Sfax.
Monday April 13, 2026: installation of a trial on the farm of Mr. Habib Hélal in Hedadra in the Governorate of Monastir, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) and the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Monastir.
The trial consists of studying the adaptation of seasonal vegetales crops (tomato and pepper) to organic mode.
During this day, the delimitation of the trial plot as well as soil and compost samples were carried out, according to the trial protocol, for analysis.
Follow-up and supervision realized by:
- Youssef Amor: CTAB.
The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture conducted two training sessions organized in collaboration with the Rural Women's Support Division at the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development of Gafsa.
These training sessions focused on:
- "Processing, valorization, and marketing of medicinal and aromatic plants according to organic farming methods", held in El Mdhila;
- "Compost production techniques", held in Bouomrane (El Guettar).
These activities took place on April 7–8, 2026, benefiting rural women's groups.
The sessions were led by Engineer Salaheddine SOUGUIR and Engineer Hanem GRISSA.
The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture participated on Monday, April 6, 2026, in a workshop organized with the General Directorate of Organic Agriculture. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the organization of an upcoming workshop taking place on April 17, 2026, as part of the Bio Expo 2026 exhibition. The workshop will focus on the theme: “The role of rural women as a driver of transition towards organic and sustainable agriculture.”
The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture conducted field prospecting and assessment visits on April 2 and 3, 2026, represented by Ms. Hanem Grissa and Mr. Haythem El Ouaer. These visits covered a number of sites proposed by the Agricultural Development Groups (GDA) targeted under the Project for the Development and Promotion of Agricultural Value Chains in Zaghouan (PDPFA-ZG).
The objective of these missions was to identify the most suitable sites for the establishment of pilot compost production units, equipped with specific machinery, in each agricultural area planned for conversion to organic farming. The targeted locations include Oued El Ghrane and Tebaïnia (Zaghouan delegation), as well as Zriba El Alia and Jlass (Zriba delegation).
These visits were organized in partnership with the Organic Agriculture Department of the Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Zaghouan, with the participation of project coordinators and facilitators, as well as agricultural extension units in Zaghouan and Zriba, in coordination with the governing bodies of the GDAs.
This activity is part of the implementation of the cooperation agreement signed between the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture and the CRDA of Zaghouan, aiming to promote organic agricultural value chains within the framework of the “PDPFA-ZG” project.
The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) animated a training session organized in cooperation with the Women’s Rural Support Division at the Regional Agricultural Development Commissioner (CRDA) of Nabeul, on "Processing, valorization, and marketing of Organic medicinal and aromatic ".
The training took place on April 1st and 2nd, 2026 at the Youth Center of El Oudiane, in Menzel Temime, Nabeul Governorate, and was presented for rural women's groups.
The session was facilitated by engineers Salaheddine Souguir and Faten Ksouri Mansour.
Mr. Hatem Chehidi, General Engineer and representative of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture, attended the 50th-anniversary celebrations of the Higher School of Agriculture of El Kef, in recognition of the strong partnership and cooperation agreement established between the two bodies, which collaborate closely in the supervision and training of students. The event took place on April 2, 2026, at the Higher School of Agriculture of El Kef.
Mr. Youssef AMOR General Engineer and Director of Experimentation and Communication and Ms. Hanem Grissa General Engineer and Director of Training at the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB), participated in the animation of a information day on “the production of organic olive trees”, organized by the Regional Commission for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Monastir: Division of Organic Agriculture (DAB) as part of the “BIOREST” project for the benefit of a group of farmers.
Date and place: Wednesday April 1, 2026 at the Agricultural Training Center of Jemmel in the Governorate of Monastir.
Within the framework of monitoring the implementation of the components of the project “Development of a Sustainable and Fair Organic Agritourism Sector for the Benefit of Tunisian Territories and Their Populations (BioTED)”, Mr. Haythem Elouaer participated in the work of the meeting of the National Commission in Charge of Monitoring the Project, held at the headquarters of the General Directorate of Organic Agriculture on March 31, 2026, in his dual capacity as representative of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture and as a member of the said commission.
The session was devoted to reviewing and providing opinions on the following activities and points :
- The project for the preparation of the document “Investor’s Guide in the Field of Agricultural Tourism”, prepared by a consulting firm;
- The approval of the procedural manual related to the support of pilot projects in organic tourism selected within the framework of the BioTED project;
- The requirements of the second group of pilot projects in organic tourism;
- A summary of the difficulties encountered by the first group of pilot projects.
As part of the exchange of experiences, a group of professors and Students from the Horticulture, Landscape and Marketing School of Saint Ilan in France and the Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Meriem - Sousse - Tunisia visited the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) on March 31, 2026.
During this visit, there was a presentation of the CTAB activities, a visit to the pesticide residue analysis laboratory and contaminants of the CTAB was made as well as experimental station.
As part of planning objectives for the 2026-2030 five-year plan for the organic agriculture sector, and with the support of the European Commission, the General Directorion of Organic Agriculture organized a workshop on Thursday March 26, 2026 in Kairouan.
This workshop supervised by the charger of the General Directorate of Organic Agriculture. The General Director of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture participated in this event. The representative of the General Director of the Regional Agricultural Development Commissioner of Kairouan assisted in this workshop. In addition, the representatives of the Regional Center for Research in Horticulture and Organic Agriculture in Chott Meriem, the National Food Safety Authority, regional administrations, representatives of the Organic Agriculture divisions in the CRDAs, as well as certain operators in the sector and representatives of active associations in the organic agriculture sector participated in this event.
At the start of this workshop, two interventions presented:
- First intervention: The situation of the organic farming sector in Tunisia,
- The second intervention: An overview of the objectives of previous strategies in the sector.
Then, four participatory work teams organized involving all stakeholders to identify priorities and strengths, as well as to submit suggestions and an action plan for the strategy. These teams included the Governance, the Plant and animal production and processing, the Control and certification and the Marketing.
As part of efforts to consolidate organic agriculture, engineers Faten Ksouri Mansour and Salaheddine Souguir conducted a field visit to Mr. Habib Hilal's farm, located in Hedadra, Monastir Governorate. This initiative was carried out in coordination between the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture and the Organic Agriculture Division of the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development of Monasti, on March 3, 2026.
During the visit, the team carried out a comprehensive assessment of the farm, identified suitable land areas for cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants, and selected crop varieties best adapted to the region's agro-ecological conditions. Technical guidance was also provided to encourage the farmer to invest in this high-potential sector, particularly relevant given the farmer's active involvement in eco-tourism activities.
As part of the activities of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture related to the technical supervision of organic farmers, field visits were carried out on February 24, 2026, to organic farms located in Sidi Thabet, in the governorate of Ariana.
The visit was conducted in the presence of representatives from the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture : Youssef Amor and Salaheddine Souguir, as well as the representative of the Extension and Programming Service for Organic Agriculture at the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development of Ariana, Ms. Hasna Gharbi. The team examined the components of the organic farms, including olive trees, fig trees, citrus orchards, and organic rose plantations of Ariana.
Appropriate technical advice was also provided to ensure high-quality production.
Date: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Visitors: First-year Master's students in Waste Management, Treatment, and Valorization, and Master's students in Environmental Eco-Monitoring from the Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia.
Subject: Presentation of compost production techniques.
Supervision: Hanem Grissa.
As part of the implementation of the national strategy adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries concerning the management and valorization of olive mill wastewater (OMW), and given the strategic importance of the Sfax governorate as Tunisia's leading olive-producing region, the Organic Agriculture Division of the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development of Sfax organized, on February 17, 2026, an informational and field demonstration day for a group of local farmers.
This event was held in collaboration with the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB), the Essalama Agricultural Complex, the Olive Institute, the organic certification body ECOCERT, and with the participation of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries of Sfax and the Regional Section of the Order of Engineers of Sfax.
The proceedings were attended by the Director General of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture, the President of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Director of the Essalama Agricultural Complex in Menzel Chaker.
Mr. Youssef Amor, Director of Experimentation and Communication at CTAB, in coordination with the Head of the Organic Agriculture Division at the Regional Commissionner and representatives from the various partner institutions.
The technical day featured a practical demonstration of OMW land application on an organically managed olive orchard within the Essalama Agricultural Complex. This hands-on session enabled participants to:
- Discover recommended application techniques and dosage protocols;
- Engage in real-time discussion on operational implementation procedures;
- Raise questions and submit proposals regarding key technical challenges associated with applying the approved technical package, notably:
* L'homogénéité de répartition de la margine et la nécessité d'adopter des systèmes de pompage adaptés ;
* La gestion différenciée de la margine issue d'olives non biologiques, afin d'éviter tout mélange avec la margine certifiée biologique.
Several forward-looking recommendations were discussed to enhance the energy valorization of OMW and to encourage youth engagement in this sector. Proposals included fostering innovative entrepreneurial initiatives (development companies, civil society enterprises, etc.) leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies such as geomatics and artificial intelligence.
In his concluding statement, the Director General of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture reaffirmed his institution's commitment and openness to collaborate with all relevant stakeholders. The objective is to develop concrete, evidence-based solutions to identified technical constraints, thereby strengthening this national strategy and optimizing the sustainable valorization of olive mill wastewater within the framework of organic agriculture.
The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture animated a practical information day on "Compost Production Techniques in Organic Agriculture" at the Green Village organic farm, located in the Babouch region, Ain Draham delegation, benefiting women in rural areas.
On this occasion, Engineer Hanem Grissa presented theoretical and practical presentations aimed at female farmers on February 17, 2026, in partnership with the Organic Agriculture Division of the Regional Commissionner for Agricultural Development of Jendouba.
This event was organized in coordination with the General Direction of Organic Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Tunisia, as part of the "BIOREST" project.
