Tunisia faces amplified agricultural and economic losses due to heat stress and climate change
via Business News2 min read
A new joint scientific report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FAO and the World Meteorological Organization WMO highlights a rapid intensification of global heatwaves, with measurable impacts on agricultural production, livestock, oceans, and rural livelihoods. Approximately 27% of the world's population is exposed to repeated extreme heat episodes, placing agriculture at the center of climate change impacts, particularly in tropical and Mediterranean regions like Tunisia. The report indicates that agricultural systems are experiencing continuous thermal pressure, altering production cycles, water availability, and soil fertility. A 1掳C increase in global average temperature leads to a 6-7.5% decrease in yields for staple crops like wheat and corn, with potential future losses of up to an additional 10% per degree of warming if greenhouse gas emissions continue at the current rate. Physiologically, these losses are due to reduced photosynthesis during heat peaks, accelerated growth cycles limiting grain development, and increased evapotranspiration. The livestock sector is also significantly affected, with reduced productivity in animals, particularly cattle, leading to decreased milk production, reproductive issues, and increased disease vulnerability. In adverse climate scenarios, nearly half of the world's cattle could face severe heat stress by the end of the century, with economic losses estimated at tens of billions of dollars annually. Th
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Mostafa Abdelkebir, president of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights OTDH, announced on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the release of four Tunisians who were part of the "Soumoud" caravan. In a Facebook post, Abdelkebir stated that two of the individuals had been detained for over a month by authorities in eastern Libya. He did not provide further details regarding their identities, the circumstances of their arrest, or the conditions of their release. This announcement follows a period with several cases involving Tunisian nationals in Libya. Last week, Abdelkebir reported that about a dozen Tunisians, including workers and travelers, were arrested in the Zaou茂a region. He suggested these arrests might be connected to a case involving three Libyan nationals sought by Tunisian justice. The OTDH president had previously condemned the situation as unacceptable, arguing that the arrested Tunisians were not involved in the judicial proceedings and should not be used as "bargaining chips." He urged Libyan authorities to release them immediately and advocated for disputes between the two countries to be handled solely through judicial cooperation mechanisms.
Tunisian olive oil exports saw a substantial increase during the first seven months of the 2025-2026 campaign November 2025 to May 2026, according to data from the National Observatory of Agriculture Onagri. Exported quantities reached 327.4 thousand tons, a 57.9% rise from 207.3 thousand tons in the same period of the previous campaign. Export revenues also grew by 44.9%, totaling 4,058.5 million dinars, up from 2,801.2 million dinars a year prior. Despite this growth in volume, packaged olive oil accounted for only 12.9% of total exports, a slight decrease from 13% in the previous campaign, indicating near stagnation. Conversely, 87.1% of exports were in bulk, and only 17.2% of export revenues came from packaged oil. Extra virgin olive oil dominated Tunisian exports, making up 83.3% of the total volume shipped internationally. The average price of olive oil decreased by 2% in May 2026 compared to the same period last year, from 13.23 dinars to 12.96 dinars per kilogram. The European Union remains the primary destination for Tunisian olive oil, absorbing 57.8% of exported volumes, followed by North America 22.8%, Asia 11.5%, and Africa 4.2%. Spain led country-specific imports with 33.6% of exported quantities, ahead of Italy 19.5% and the United States 18.3%. Organic olive oil exports reached 44.5 thousand tons, valued at 583.4 million dinars, with packaged organic oil representing only 5.5% of these volumes. The average price for organic olive oil was 13.10 dinars per kilog
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