Algerian agro-industrial and food security developments

Algeria is pursuing several initiatives to strengthen its food security and agro-industrial capacity through foreign investment and legislative reform.

Private and state-led investments are expanding the sector. The Spanish group Vicky Foods is investing 19 million euros to double production capacity at its facility in Sig, Mascara, focusing on sponge cake and bread. Additionally, the Algerian government is collaborating with Qatar’s Baladna group on a 3.5 billion dollar dairy project in the Adrar region. This project aims to import 270,000 Holstein cows to produce 1.7 billion liters of milk annually, though experts have noted concerns regarding the high water requirements and reliance on saline fossil water.

Complementing these investments, the government is moving to reform agricultural laws. Agriculture Minister Sid Ali Khaldi announced a revision of the country’s agricultural orientation law, ordered by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This reform seeks to achieve food sovereignty by focusing on the cereal sector, introducing climate-resilient wheat varieties, and optimizing crop distribution to reduce reliance on imports.