For more than a decade, North Africa has seen sustained growth in its agricultural exports, with an annual average of +8.6% between 2012 and 2023, driven by sectors such as fruit, vegetables and dates. This dynamic makes the region one of the best performing on the continent, even if its share remains modest on a global scale, far behind the major exporting centres of Asia and Latin America.
Food sovereignty and local supply chains
While this export dynamic generates significant income and boosts the competitiveness of certain sectors, it does not automatically translate into improved food sovereignty. Access to basic foodstuffs is still sometimes difficult, and the dietary diversity of local populations is not necessarily enhanced as a result.
That is why the development of local supply chains is crucial: they ensure domestic supply, create added value locally, support rural employment and reinforce social stability. Against a backdrop of climate change and increased pressure on natural resources (water, soil, biodiversity), consolidating these industries is now a major strategic challenge for the region’s agricultural future.
Structuring high-performance agri-food chains
Given this situation, it is clear that the development of efficient local supply chains is crucial if North Africa is to achieve its ambitions of food sovereignty.
This is precisely the context in which our work comes into its own, supporting local players to build resilient, sustainable value chains that generate value.
To give you a concrete example of what we do in the field:
- With Danone, we have strengthened local dairy production by securing a supply of high-quality, efficient fodder that respects natural resources, contributing directly to the resilience of hundreds of farms in all their production basins in North Africa and to the sustainability of the sector.
- In the Moroccan Atlas, we supported a project to develop agricultural land by devising development scenarios combining production for both the local and export markets, promoting value creation, technical and economic viability and sustainable development of farms.
Our presence covers several key countries in the region: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, etc., with assignments tailored to the specific context of each territory.
These challenges directly concern players in the agri-food industry, investors and institutions seeking to secure their supplies while developing solid, self-sufficient local industries.
Find out more about our projects and how we are already working with leading food companies in North Africa: https://www.apexagri.com/realisations/