✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada
Algiers, Algeria | July 7th, 2024 — In a significant step towards strengthening Algerian-Italian cooperation, a framework agreement has been signed in Algiers between Algeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Italian company Bonifiche Ferraresi (BF). This integrated project, focused on the production of cereals, legumes, and pasta in the Timimoun region, marks a major advancement in bilateral relations.
The agreement was formalized at the International Conference Center (CIC) in Algiers by Souad Assaous, Director General of Investment and Agricultural Land at the Ministry, and Federico Vecchioni, CEO of BF. The signing ceremony was witnessed by several high-ranking officials, including Youcef Cherfa, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development; Laâziz Faïd, Minister of Finance; Mohamed Arkab, Minister of Energy and Mines; Ali Aoun, Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production; and Taha Derbal, Minister of Water Resources. The Italian delegation included Francesco Lollobrigida, Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Forests; Fabrizio Saggio, Diplomatic Advisor to the Italian Prime Minister; and Alberto Cutillo, Italian Ambassador to Algeria.
Project Overview
Valued at €420 million, this ambitious investment project will be implemented on 36,000 hectares in Timimoun. It aims to produce wheat, lentils, dry beans, and chickpeas, while also establishing processing units for pasta production, storage silos, and essential infrastructure. The project will feature a complex that includes a flour mill, storage facilities, and a pasta production line.
In addition to cereals and legumes, the project will incorporate strategic crops such as oilseeds, including soybeans, into the crop rotation. The joint venture overseeing the project will be owned 49% by Algeria’s National Investment Fund (FNI) and 51% by the Italian partner.
Economic and Social Impact
Minister Youcef Cherfa highlighted the project’s alignment with Algeria’s policy to enhance food security through the National Plan for the Development of Strategic Crops, which includes cereals, legumes, sugar plants, oilseeds, seeds, and milk. The project is expected to increase national production of durum wheat by 170,000 tons per year, lentils by 7,100 tons, beans by 14,000 tons, and chickpeas by 11,000 tons. Additionally, 60% of the durum wheat produced will be allocated to strategic reserves, with the remaining 40% designated for processing and export.
Cherfa emphasized that this initiative, alongside a similar agreement with the Qatari company Baladna for a dairy farm and milk powder production in Adrar, reflects the state’s growing interest in opening agricultural investment to both public and private Algerian operators in partnership with foreign entities, particularly in the southern regions. These regions offer significant potential for large-scale projects.
The project is poised to create over 6,700 jobs, including 1,600 permanent positions, significantly contributing to local employment.
Project Timeline and Future Prospects
The project will commence in October 2024, focusing initially on soil preparation for the autumn planting season. Full operations, including an integrated farm for cereal and legume production, a durum wheat mill, a pasta production line, a couscous production line, and storage facilities with a total capacity of 62,000 tons, are expected to be operational by summer 2025. The entire project is projected to be completed within four years.
Strategic Significance and Technology Transfer
Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida underscored the agreement’s significance, coinciding with Algeria’s Independence and Youth Day. He highlighted that the project would enhance exports, particularly to African countries, and facilitate technology transfer, acknowledging Algeria’s strategic role in the Mediterranean and Africa.
Federico Vecchioni, CEO of BF, described the project as “extremely important and strategic with international dimensions,” envisioning it as a reference point for legume production in the Mediterranean. BF aims to deliver a turnkey agro-food chain, from seed supply to industrial production, including pasta. The company also plans to offer training programs for Algerian professionals and develop collaborative projects with local academic and research institutions. The initial phase will include well drilling for a modern drip irrigation system.
Vecchioni assured that BF’s technicians would begin preparations for autumn sowing immediately, ensuring the project’s alignment with both Italian and Algerian agricultural standards and expectations.
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