In Tunisia, the agricultural sector faces multiple challenges that affect both productivity and farmers’ livelihoods. Although agroecology is increasingly recognized as a pathway to sustainable agriculture, the extent of its adoption by farmers remains unclear. This study assesses the agroecological performance of 50 farms in the Sbikha delegation of the Kairouan governorate (Central Tunisia), using the Tool for Agroecological Performance Evaluation (TAPE), developed by the FAO. This tool assesses how existing cropping systems align with the 10 principles of agroecology and explores their potential for further transition. The results reveal a modest level of agroecological adoption, averaging only 41%. Several factors influence this outcome, including limited farmer knowledge and technical capacity, a weak institutional and organizational framework, and low diversification of cropping systems. Furthermore, three types of farms were identified based on their production systems: farms specializing in fruit trees, farms specializing in cereal and vegetable crops, and farms specializing in olive and vegetable crops. Among these, fruit tree farms exhibit a higher level of agroecological transition, averaging 51%. This increased diversification enhances resilience to market fluctuations. To accelerate the agroecological transition, several key measures should be implemented. Updating land property titles would improve access to credit by enabling farmers to provide the necessary guarantees. Additionally, targeted training programs and awareness-raising initiatives could strengthen technical capacities, thereby facilitating the adoption of agroecological practices. These interventions would enhance farmers’ economic resilience, support sustainable agricultural production, and promote equitable rural development.

Dès l’Indépendance (1956), la mobilisation des ressources productives (terre, eau) et l’amélioration de leur niveau d’utilisation ont été les principaux instruments de la politique agricole en Tunisie. Pour mettre en œuvre ses choix et atteindre les objectifs recherchés en termes de développement agricole, l’État a mobilisé un ensemble de moyens financiers (investissements), juridiques (réformes agraires) et institutionnels (encadrement et appui aux agriculteurs irrigants). La libéralisation économique du milieu des années 1980 s’est traduite par une privatisation de l’accès aux ressources en eau et en terre à travers l’octroi de droits de propriété, de concession ou d’autorisations permettant de changer les règles de leur gestion collective. Le développement de l’irrigation a ainsi engendré des transformations rapides des modes d’accès aux ressources foncières qui ont conduit à des dynamiques profondes impliquant divers acteurs (petits agriculteurs, agro-entrepreneurs, État). La privatisation de la gestion des ressources en eau et en terre, si elle a donné des résultats en termes d’intensification de la production agricole et de création d’une agriculture intégrée au marché, semble cependant rencontrer des limites.

Tunisia’s wheat seed system faces structural and institutional constrains that limit its performance, resilience, and contribution to food sovereignty under climate variability and import dependence. This study applies a functional Social Network Analysis to examine actor interactions and identify leverage points for systemic improvement. 25 semi-structured interviews were conducted with actors from public institutions, the private sector, research institutions, and professional organizations to capture institutional knowledge and practical perspectives. Results reveal a highly centralized network dominated by public institutions, notably the Cereals Office and the General Directorate of Agricultural Production. While centralization ensures national coherence and strategic coordination, it limits local adaptability, inclusiveness, and innovation adoption. Territorial actors, including agricultural services, farmers’ organizations, cooperatives, and seed collectors and distributors, occupy marginal positions, weakening feedback loops essential for responsive decision-making and context-adapted seed dissemination. These patterns highlight critical governance trade-offs, where centralization supports efficiency and national coordination but concurrently constrains inclusion, local empowerment, and resilience. The enhancement of the performance of the wheat seed system necessitates the implementation of formalized participatory governance, the consolidation of the capacities of local actors, and the integration of digital platforms to optimize the flow of information and enable the provision of timely feedback. Complementary mechanisms, including diversified financing instruments and structured public-private partnerships, are also crucial to sustain certified seed production and adoption. By linking actor positions, network structure, and governance dynamics to policy pathways, this study provides actionable insights for institutional innovation, adaptive management, and resilience. The findings provide transferable lessons for the enhancement of wheat seed systems in Tunisia and similar MENA contexts. The findings also demonstrate the relevance of Social Network Analysis for guiding strategic decision-making, multi-actor coordination, and sustainable seed system investments.

In Tunisia, the rising demand for animal protein is placing growing pressure on livestock production systems and natural resources, particularly under the current context of climate change. Between 2017 and 2022, national meat production increased at an average annual rate of 1.4%, with a notable peak of 5.1% in 2020. At the same time, ethical and environmental concerns are reinforcing the need for more sustainable livestock production. This study assessed the sustainability of beef cattle-fattening farms in northern Tunisia. A total of 31 small farms in Bizerte governorate were evaluated using the Sustainability Indicators for Agricultural Farms (IDEA) method, which relies on 41 indicators covering three dimensions: agroecological (17 indicators), socio-territorial (18 indicators), and economic (6 indicators). Results showed that the socio-territorial dimension scored the lowest (54.79/100), mainly due to the absence of product labeling, poor rural infrastructure, limited training opportunities, weak farmer participation in professional organizations, and restricted access to transport. The analysis highlighted priority areas for improvement, including breed specialization, greater access to grazing resources, feed self-sufficiency, and better housing and breeding practices. Strengthening farmers’ integration into professional fattening organizations, with support from policymakers, is also crucial. Finally, the adoption of innovative technologies in slaughtering, animal identification, traceability, and climate change adaptation can enhance both the sustainability of production systems and the quality and safety of meat products.

Tunisia’s current food dependency highlights deep structural challenges facing the agricultural sector, which struggles to meet domestic demand and ensure an exportable surplus. This crisis is especially acute in irrigated agriculture, despite its central role in regional development. A key policy challenge lies in integrating irrigated agriculture, which is dynamic yet shaped by informal and unequal access to land and water, into a sustainable development framework. This study focuses on irrigated perimeters in northern Tunisia and examines how farmers adapt to increasing precarity and negotiate resource scarcity and climatic variability. Although the hydro-agricultural strategy has contributed to regional growth, it has failed to ensure long-term sustainability and now faces structural limits. Overexploited and fragile groundwater resources, growing competition among users, and fragmented governance threaten its viability. Addressing these challenges requires stronger regulation, transitioning to new governance models, promoting alternative agronomic systems, and restructuring agrarian structures to enhance food security, improve environmental services, and build system resilience.