Between agroecological objectives and political realities: governance, structural constraints and trade-offs of transition in Tunisia

Abstract

This paper explores the policy framework and the structural barriers that shape Tunisia’s transition to agroecology. The study builds on an analysis of strategies recently issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, complemented by a literature review, and insights from farmers collected from participatory workshops conducted under the NATAE project’s Living Lab in Siliana. Eleven strategies were selected and analyzed to identify explicit mention of agroecology and references to the 10 FAO elements of agroecology. For each element, the degree of integration within agricultural and environmental strategies was assessed. While only six strategies explicitly mention agroecology, agroecological FAO elements are embedded in all of them, reflecting the State’s increasing commitment to integrating this approach into its development agenda. Despite this awareness, several barriers hinder the effective transition. These include compartmentalized and disconnected policy visions, institutional weaknesses, and the exclusion of farmers from the decision-making process. Furthermore, the prioritization of food self-sufficiency policies, coupled with land tenure challenges and financial limitations, constrain the implementation of agroecology. The findings highlight a paradox: despite a long history of agroecological initiatives and a growing acknowledgement of agroecology within national strategies, adoption remains limited in practice. The study argues that coherent policy integration, inclusive governance mechanisms and strengthened financial support to farmers are essential to overcome these barriers and to foster agroecological transition in Tunisia.