Regional Conference on "Agroecology: Science and Policy" January 29, 30 and 31, 2025 - Tunis

Regional Conference on "Agroecology: Science and Policy"

January 29, 30 and 31, 2025 - Tunis

The Regional Conference on "Agroecology: Science and Policy", organized by the Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS) and the Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of CIHEAM Montpellier (IAMM), kicked off in Tunis under the high patronage of the Minister of the Environment of Tunisia. Bringing together decision-makers, researchers, farmers and civil society actors, this event primarily aims to promote agroecology as a crucial solution to environmental and food security challenges in North Africa.

The opening ceremony was marked by the speeches of Mr. Nabil Ben Khatra, OSS Executive Secretary, H.E. Mr. Giuseppe Perrone, Ambassador of the European Union to Tunisia, H.E. Mr. Bassem Yahia Hassan, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt delivered by Mr. Samy Abo Ragab, representative of the Desert Research Center, Ms. Elen Lemaitre-Curri, Deputy Director of CIHEAM-IAMM, who all stressed the importance of agroecology to address food challenges in the region and beyond. They stressed the need to promote the results of scientific research and have them integrated with those of ancestral and traditional know-how in this field.

H.E Mr. Habib Abid, Minister of Environment of Tunisia, recalled that agroecology is an integrated approach that fully observes the environmental, economic and social dimensions while constituting a powerful lever for rational management of natural resources, the creation of green jobs and the fight against land degradation.

The Conference aims to foster the collaboration between stakeholders by providing a platform for exchange to define common strategies and speed-up the agroecological transition by strengthening the link between scientific research and public policies, in order to promote sustainable and resilient agricultural practices to face environmental changes. By highlighting concrete solutions and good practices promoting successful agroecological initiatives in North Africa, the Conference aims to strengthen the impact of agroecology and encourage the scaling up of effective solutions through Living Laboratories and the MEDAE network (Mediterranean multi-actor network on AgroEcology).

With its expertise, its tools and its extensive network of experts, the OSS supports the transition towards agroecology which has become an essential response to optimize our food systems and ensure a more sustainable and responsible future for the generations to come.