Tunisia has extended its qualification in the area of organic products continually over the last ten years. "Organic products, known under the hallmark Bio Tunisia are becoming more and more important on the local market and are being demanded by more and more on the international market as well," as per Elke Peiler, project manager foodstuff sector of the German-Tunesian IHK.
Dates are a Tunisian trade mark and are closely linked to the North African country. Dates are the most important product bar one in the organic sector. In 2011, 6,000 tons of organic dates were harvested in Tunisia, of which 4,000 tons (67%) was exported. 68% of this went to Germany, 11% to the United States and 7% to Morocco. At present about 1,000 HA of date orchards have been certified 'organic'. Most of these are in the south-east of Tunisia. The north-east of the country is eminently suited for citrus cultivation, especially the peninsula Cap Bon. Seven producers have been successful in obtaining the certificate and already export organic oranges and lemons. It is the intention to increase the production consequently. Also in the northern area the increase of the organic cultivation
is going in the right direction. The certified area last year increased by 2,500 HA to 6,000 HA and will be used for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and grain, but also for medicinal plants and aromatic plants.
The organic sector is actively supported financially by the government. The ministry of Agriculture actually have ambitious plans: the area used for organic agriculture and the number of organic companies must be increased. Up to 2014 the present export yields must be increased from a converted 44 million Euro to about 60 million Euro. With the present export value of the organic sector Tunisia is in second place of African countries and twenty fourth worldwide.