The Tunisian agro-ecological transition network, bringing together 8 associations active in the sustainable and environmental agriculture fields, was create so as to federate a movement for agro-ecology, the network’s founding members said at a conference held Thursday at the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (French: INAT).
This network’s founding members include the Tunisian Association of Permaculture (French: ATPE), the Association for Chenini Oasis Safeguard (French: ASOC), the Children of the Earth network (French: RET) and the Tunisian Association for Environmental Agriculture (French: ATAE).
The network aims to integrate agroecology into public policies and to reduce chemical inputs by 50% by 2035.
“It also aims to include agro-ecology in the learning and education process, improve the organic matter content of the soil and develope agro-forestry in the cereal system,” said Yosra Chaibi, President of the National Union of Operators of the Organic Sector (UNObio), another founding association
of this network.
The new network, which also includes the Association for Sustainable Agriculture, the Association les Amis de CAPTE and the Lella Kmar El Baya Agricultural Cooperative, also seeks to transform the monoculture of olive trees into tiered polyculture and to contribute to the restoration of ecosystems so as to improve biodiversity.
The programme of this network, which remains open to other associations and non-profit organisations including agricultural development groups, researchers and private enterprise, includes online training workshops and the drafting of agro-ecology specifications, said Rim Mathlouthi, ATP President.
The announcement of the creation of this network was made during the agro-ecology day organised by the 8 associations.
This event included presentations on agroforestry for agroecology, Moringa oleifera, organic farming labels, the 4 agronomic pillars of agroecology and stories from young people involved in agroecology.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse