The Plant Protection Department (PP) at the Chott-Mariem Higher Institute of Agronomy (ISA-CM) which is a body under the joint supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, water resources and sea fishing and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, deals with topical issues in the field of crop and environmental protection: control of invasive pests and crop diseases, development of alternative control methods that respect the environment and human health and the development of biological and integrated control towards pests and diseases of economic importance.
Moreover, the Department has an educational mission that is reflected in the student training (Engineers, bachelors, Masters, and Ph.Ds.) in the field of plant protection and the environment. This is possible thanks to its infrastructure, collaboration with research institutions, and the mobilization of national and international research funds. Research work in the Department is carried out mainly through doctoral theses in agricultural sciences that are reflected in a large number of theses already defended or in progress.
The members of the Plant Protection Department of ISA-CM involved in this project are professors and researchers, experts in various scientific fields including Ecology, Entomology, Nematology, Acarology, Phytopathology, Biological control, Ecotoxicology, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology.
Moreover, the scientific production of the members of this department has evolved considerably in terms of quantity and quality through the publication of scientific articles in specialized international journals.

Institut Supérieur Agronomique Chott Mariem, B.P 47, 4042 Chott Mariem Sousse- Tunisie

The Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania produces high quality scientific research with a high social and economic impact and organizes study courses (doctorates, masters and bachelor degrees) and others educational activities with highly innovative content and training objectives designed to meet the current needs of the society and the labor market, with particular reference to the areas of agricultural and food production and environmental protection in the Mediterranean Basin.
Di3A has numerous libraries and laboratories to support research and teaching activities. The academic and research staff of the department join to public research funding on regional, national and international bases.
The Department in general and the research groups that join this project have internationally recognized expertise on the topics of the project such as: rural economics, applied entomology, phytopathology, virology, phytobacteriology, biological control of crop pests, ecology, epidemiology, (éco)-toxicology of insecticides, systematics of insects, microbiology, molecular biology.

Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Via S. Sofia, 100 – 95123 Catania

University of Catania
Piazza Università, 2 – 95131 Catania

The cooperative A.R.ES., established in October 2001, operates in the field of business consulting, training, and the use of structural funds, national and regional.
The aim of the cooperative is to carry out, also in collaboration with other bodies, associations, institutions and companies, integrated regional and cross-border planning projects. A.R.ES. has a good system of relationships thanks to the work of its members and collaborators and the professional history of each of them and also makes use of the experience and expertise of external consultants.
Many projects have been carried out with the contribution of European funds and in the agri-food sector has carried out, in collaboration with other partners, two projects of international importance: project “AGRO-MED Quality – Plateforme Méditerranéenne pour la Qualité dans l’Agriculture et l’Agroalimentaire”, funded by the Italy-Tunisia 2007-2013 and Project “AGRO-TRA”, funded by the Regional Department of Productive Activities of the Sicilian Region.

Fonte Verde cultivates its goods in an area strongly suited to the production of vegetables both in a protected environment (tunnel greenhouses) and in the open field, since this area is characterised by particularly advantageous pedoclimatic conditions. The company manage 600-hectare lands located in both Ragusa and Syracuse provinces, in the south-east of Sicily.
The main products of Fonte Verde are: carrots, courgettes, sweat peppers, potatoes, melons, watermelon and grape. The most important production in quantities and value is carrot production that is qualified with the European brand “Carota Novella di Ispica GPI”.
The main facility is located in the countryside of Ispica and it extends over 38,000 square meters.
The second warehouse, located near the coast of Santa Maria Focallo, houses a large photovoltaic system.
Fonte Verde has been pursuing for years an active campaign for raising awareness on an eco-sustainable agriculture by implementing agronomic cultivation techniques and choices aimed to respect the environment and the healthiness of the products. At this purpose, the company’s agronomist technicians have prepared production guide lines, periodically updated, where the cultivation methods adopted are described.
Fonte Verde products are cultivated implementing integrated pest management programmes, pursuing the zero pesticides’ residues goal.
Fonte Verde trades just fresh fruits and vegetables, in fact, its products never undergo any conservation treatment.
Fonte Verde has GLOBALGAP, IFS and GRASP certifications.
Here below are summarised some data recorded by the company in the 2019-2020 agriculture year:

– Cultivated land extended about 618 ha;
– Turnover 7,216,035 € (60% Italy and 40% Export);
– Average employees number 200.

In the 2004, Fonte Verde entrepreneurs decide to create an Organization of producers, named Consorzio Fonteverde O.P., with a group of local farmers. This company today counts 18 partners and it accounts an annual turnover of approximately 14 million Euro.
Consorzio Fonteverde O.P. trades Fonte Verde and the other partners’ products. Its brand is well known both in the national and European market since the company has a great reputation thanks to the high quality of its products and its professional integrity.

The National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT) was founded in 1898 and has trained, since its creation, more than 4000 agronomic engineers in several specialties (Vegetable Production, Animal Production, Fisheries and Environment, Crop Protection, Water and Forestry, Economy and Management of Agricultural Enterprises and Agri-Food Industry). It is an institute of Education and Research governed by both the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (IRESA) and the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (University of Carthage). INAT conducts a training and research mission through innovation (Engineer, Master and PhD levels). These skills are used at the service of sustainable agricultural development, technological, economic and social progress, and the preservation of health and the environment. Thanks to its staff of research professors, which exceeds one hundred, INAT has forged cooperative and collaborative relations at national and international levels. So it was and is involved in several international projects and programs (AVICENNE, FP5, FP6, FP7, TEMPUS, ENPI, AUF, PISEAU, ANR) and bilateral (Tunisia-Tunisia, Tunisia-Spain, Tunisia-Italy, Tunisia-Belgium, Tunisia-South Africa, Tunisia-Algeria, Tunisia-Morocco, etc.).
The general objective of our Research Laboratory “Bio-aggressors and Integrated Protection in Agriculture” is the development and the implementation of integrated control strategies against the main pests, diseases and weeds affecting crops encompassing different approaches: cultural, organic (in particular by promoting the action of natural enemies), biotechnical and as last chemical resort. The research laboratory is positioned in the theme of sustainable agriculture and its challenges are the reduction of the use of chemicals, respect for the environment, the preservation of biodiversity (natural enemies and pollinators) and human health (that of the consumed by producing fruit free from residues and of the farmer by reducing his exposure to pesticides).

Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, INAT
43, Avenue Charles Nicolle 1082 Tunis Cité Mahrajène
Laboratoire de Recherche LR14AGR02

URAP (Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries) of Kairouan is one of the 24 regional representations of the parent entity; Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) which is National professional agricultural organization dealing with all sectors of agriculture and fisheries throughout Tunisia, spokesman for the farmers and fishermen, responsible for representing them to the authorities and professional and economic institutions and for defending them , protecting their rights and working for the organization of the profession, promotion and valorization of products of different agricultural sectors
The Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), in addition to its mission of advocacy, it contributes to the development of the agriculture and fishing sectors and aims to raise collective awareness of the capital importance of agriculture, to develop and improve the performance of the sector and rethink the place of agriculture in the country’s economic development pattern.
URAP Kairouan is represented on the level of delegation (the smallest administrative division), and on the local level,
On the level of delegation, there are about 84 sector syndicates, as basic structures whose role is to support and assist farmers in different sectors.
On the local level, there are about 13 local unions of agriculture and fisheries( ULAPs); which coordinate the work of the sector syndicates. They represent the organization on this level.
URAP of Kairouan coordinates the work of the local unions. It represents the parent organization UTAP at the regional level. It fulfills its role by being based on an organizational structure bringing together around 265 officials elected throughout the governorate.

Address: 3100 Kairouan