L’Algeria continues its strategy of strengthening its position among the world's major olive oil producers. The country is part of a dynamic of sustainable development, aiming to extend olive cultivation to new regions, including more arid and desert areas, far from the traditional Mediterranean coasts.
One of the project's flagship initiatives is an ambitious program to plant one million olive trees, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year. This expansion aims not only to regenerate existing orchards, but also to grow olive growing in provinces less favored in terms of water resources, such as those located on the borders of the desert. To do this, the government uses the abundant water tables of these regions, a key resource to support such agricultural enterprise in a context of increasing water scarcity elsewhere, notably in Tunisia neighbor.
L’Algeria enjoys an increasingly favorable position on the global olive market. According to the International Olive Council, the country now ranks fourth in the world for table olive production and seventh for olive oil production. In terms of surface area, olive growing occupies nearly 443,000 hectaresa significant jump compared to 160,000 hectares recorded in the early 2000s. This sector is of strategic importance for the Algerian economy, in particular for food security, and benefits from constant support from the State.
Algerian olive production has seen strong growth in recent years. In 2023, the country harvested more than 9 million quintals of olivesdont around 3 million were intended for direct consumption. The country is also home to a great diversity of olive tree varieties, more than 48 in total, suitable for both oil production and table olives. This diversity, combined with local expertise in seeds and conservation techniques, constitutes a major asset for the consolidation of the sector.
