agroecology

On 2 December 2025, hbs offices in Beirut, Rabat, Ramallah, and Tunis jointly hosted an online launch event for the Pesticide Atlas – MENA Region Edition 2025, published both in Arabic and English. The event brought together environmental organizations, activists, researchers, and interested participants from across the MENA region and the world. Speakers included hbs team members alongside experts and activists from Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Tunisia.

In Lebanon, after years of intensive agriculture and the use of chemicals, there is a growing need and interest in safer and environmentally friendly alternatives. Emerging from years of academic research, biopesticides have been approved by Lebanese authorities, but are still not officially registered due to the lack of regulatory procedures.

Behind the alarming statistics on pesticide use, lies a rarely acknowledged reality: agricultural female workers and small-scale farmers are trapped in a system that sacrifices their health and dignity in the name of profit. Their testimonies reveal a daily struggle marked by grueling working conditions, exposure to chemicals without adequate protection, and the resulting tragic consequences. Exposing these realities aims to spark collective awareness and advocate for a fairer agricultural model-one that upholds human dignity and preserves the environment.

Agriculture in Tunisia is facing critical challenges now with the recent findings on the use of phytosanitary products, which are banned in several countries, including Europe and the United States. This raises concerns about soil health, biodiversity, and food security in the country. Nonetheless, promising alternatives such as agroecology and permaculture are becoming more prominent, offering a holistic perspective for a sustainable transformation of the Tunisian agricultural sector.

As in many countries, pesticides are widely used in Tunisia, which poses potential risks to human health and the environment. Despite their known risks, research on pesticides use and their effects is still lacking. It is challenging to assess the extent of pesticide-related problems in Tunisia and develop a reliable strategy to safeguard both the population and the environment.

In 2022, Tunisia imported 4,161.2 tonnes of pesticides, reflecting a significant 33 percent decrease from the previous year. This decline is largely due to reduced cultivated areas resulting from drought and water scarcity, alongside a general lack of awareness regarding the severity of the situation and the dangers associated with pesticide use.