In a globalized scenario characterized by cogent challenges, sustainable development represents a fundamental objective, according to the agenda of policymakers. This is particularly true with regard to farming, and those agricultural systems that are fully consistent with sustainability in society (health, employment), environment (methane emission, water resource and so on), and economy (source of wealth). Tunisia is one of the world’s top olive oil-producing countries. It is also the country with the largest certified organic olive-producing areas in the world. Moreover, a larger volume of Tunisian olive oil is produced using nearly organic practices, without actually being certified. Given the growing demand for certified products, Tunisia should strengthen its market position by building on its reputation for sustainable farming, through the promotion and the creation of new geographic indications for EVOO. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of GIs and how such kinds of labeling can be more effective, operational, and sustainable, to support the country’s development strategy in this sector. Through an ad hoc quanti-qualitative analysis of Tunisian olive oil value chain, representative of the natural resources, the deep understanding of cultures and traditions of the country, a comprehensive and precise SWOT analysis carried out on the Tunisian olive sector has been performed. This study bears significance as it depicts a specific roadmap that should allow a better application and extension of GI’s initiatives referring to the three pillars of Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations, and by building on the position of Tunisia as an organic origin focusing on five strategic lines: organizational and institutional framework; capacity building improvement; communication and networking roles; the role of TIC and the emergence of new opportunities; financial and support products availability. The final outcome should also aim to shorten the distances between all stakeholders to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda in the Mediterranean basin, by removing behavioral and institutional barriers that inhibit the transformations needed to achieve more sustainable economies and societies, by means of a cross-disciplinary dialogue around olive oil chain sustainability and narrowing the gap between research and policymakers.

Cereal, oilseed, and protein (COP) production is an important sector contributing to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Tunisia. COP farms often diversify their production patterns to stabilize their income sources and spread production risk across crops. However, crop diversity may entail an inefficient use and management of resources to achieve the desired output. In addition, the COP sector still shows a low productivity level, depending on weather conditions in Tunisia. In this context, this study aimed to assess the relationship between the land use pattern and efficiency performance of farms. We used data envelopment analysis (DEA) in the presence of uncertainty based on state-contingent techniques. This approach has not previously been used to examine the links between crop pattern and efficiency. We found that specialized COP farms, on average, exhibited higher technical efficiency levels than those adopted mix cropping systems (83% and 60%, respectively), indicating an important margin to reduce inefficiency. Nevertheless, both diversified and specialized farms could reduce their inefficiency levels through more rational input use to attain the current level of production. Some practical implications were derived to target policy interventions to enhance agricultural productivity and resource use efficiency.

Controlling the Orobanche weed parasite is a major challenge for farmers, and the individual application of various management practices has not yet proven to be successful in addressing this issue. To develop an effective strategy for managing this parasitic weed, an Integrated Orobanche Management (IOM) approach has become a priority. Using a Discrete Choice Experiment (DCE) methodology, we analyze the trade-off in farmers’ preferences between different attributes of IOM scenarios and estimate their willingness to pay (WTP). A sample of 124 Tunisian faba bean farmers participated in the study. The findings indicate that Tunisian farmers are open to adopt an IOM that includes Orobanche-tolerant faba bean varieties, and that the cost of technical package does not seem to be an obstacle. Nevertheless, farmers feel to be rewarded for delaying the sowing date from November to December. Furthermore, the study highlights that farmers show no clear preferences for the use of herbicide, specifically glyphosate, as well as for the practice of intercropping with fenugreek. While increasing faba bean yields remains a priority, farmers are willing to pay more for IOM scenarios that reduce the Orobanche plant shoot count. In conclusion, there is significant heterogeneity in farmers’ preferences, their financial situation, and the severity of Orobanche infestation significantly influencing their decision. Policy recommendations are derived from our results.

Societal awareness, demand for innovative food systems and increasing herbicide resistance have induced policy, regulatory and research actions towards the adoption of sustainable weed management, which is based on sustainable, integrated and ecological principles. The study investigates farmers’ perceptions with regard to sustainable weed management, considering that the adoption of relevant practices depends on a set of farmer-specific and innovation-specific attributes. To achieve this purpose, an on-site survey was conducted in Greece and Tunisia based on a structured questionnaire, which was completed by 105 arable farmers in total. The questionnaire was designed to record farmers’ opinions and preferences regarding aspects related to sustainable weed management, such as innovation and the decision making process. Using descriptive statistics methods, the study pinpointed significant differences between the responses of Greek and Tunisian farmers due to their particular needs and characteristics, suggesting thus the integration of targeted approaches towards the expansion of sustainable weed management.

Household food waste represents a major environmental, economic and social challenge, particularly in developing countries where empirical evidence remains limited. To address this gap, this study extends the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by simultaneously incorporating sustainable marketing and food-related lifestyle, providing a more comprehensive framework for explaining consumers’ intentions to reduce household food waste in the Tunisian context. Data were collected through a survey of 919 consumers across four Tunisian cities and analyzed using a structural equation model. The results show that attitude is the strongest predictor of food waste reduction intention, while subjective norms influence intention indirectly through attitude and perceived behavioral control. Sustainable marketing positively enhances both attitude and perceived behavioral control, whereas food-related lifestyle negatively affects attitude and behavioral intentions. The findings also indicate that stronger intentions to reduce food waste could encourage more sustainable food-related lifestyles. By integrating marketing, sensory and social meal lifestyle-related determinants into the TPB framework, this study advances understanding of household food waste behavior in an under-researched developing country context and provides practical insights for designing interventions that combine awareness raising with food management practices to promote sustainable household consumption.