Tunisia Food Storage Crisis Linked to Anti-Speculation Laws

Tunisia is facing shortages of basic agricultural products as food storage operators abandon their businesses over fears of prosecution under anti-monopoly legislation, a leading industry figure has warned.

Speaking at the African International Food Industries Salon in Hammamet, Fathi Ben Khalifa, spokesman for the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries, said the potato shortage exemplifies how the strict anti-speculation laws are disrupting food supply chains.

“The storage system needs urgent review to protect our food security,” Mr Ben Khalifa told delegates at the conference.

He also highlighted that 30% of Tunisia’s food produce goes to waste, calling for a shift towards contract farming to ensure better coordination between producers and food processors.

The crisis comes as Tunisia grapples with broader economic challenges and rising food prices, putting pressure on both consumers and agricultural businesses.

Industry experts say the anti-monopoly legislation, while aimed at preventing price manipulation, may be having unintended consequences on the country’s food distribution network.