Discover the Rich Legacy of Tunisian Olives:
A Journey Through History & Flavor
Olive cultivation
Olive Oil Tradition in Tunisia boasts a long-standing tradition with the olive tree, known, maintained, and expertly utilized since ancient times. Italy and Spain have benefited from the Carthaginian knowledge and expertise. It is certain that the Phoenicians and Carthaginians encountered the olive tree in Tunisia, where it was already highly valued.
In the 5th century BC, Herodotus noted the presence of olive trees in the Kerkennah Islands, near Sfax. True to these traditions, TerraRoot is deeply involved in agriculture and is one of the largest players in the sector in Tunisia.
With an ambitious program for expanding its olive plantations, the company demonstrates its mastery of the entire value chain. Agricultural management is handled by TerraRoot Agricultural, which aims to produce the finest olive oils through the cultivation of its own olive groves and the management of its oil mills. This project is unique on a national scale due to its scope. To control the entire production process, ensuring the highest quality standards and complete traceability, TerraRoot processes 100% of its harvest in its state-of-the-art extraction facilities
TerraRoot: Preserving Tradition and Leading Innovation
I n keeping with these ancient traditions, TerraRoot is deeply involved in agricultural activities, standing as one of the most significant players in the sector in Tunisia. With an ambitious program to expand its olive plantations, TerraRoot demonstrates its mastery of the entire value chain, from cultivation to processing.
The agricultural operations are managed by TerraRoot Agriculture, whose goal is to produce the finest olive oils through the cultivation of its own olive groves and the management of olive oil mills—a project of unique scale in Tunisia.
To maintain full control over the production process, ensuring the highest levels of quality and complete traceability, TerraRoot processes 100% of its harvest in its state-of-the-art extraction facilities.
The Role of Olive Cultivation in Tunisia
Olive cultivation remains a cornerstone of Tunisian agriculture, playing a vital role in rural life by providing 30 to 40 million workdays per year, particularly through the manual harvesting of olives.
With 70 million olive trees spread across 1.7 million hectares from North to South, olive farming occupies one-third of Tunisia’s arable land and over 80% of the area dedicated to fruit tree cultivation. Tunisia accounts for 20% of the world’s olive grove area.
This prominent position of Tunisia’s olive industry is maintained through a blend of thriving traditional practices and modern techniques that emphasize the rational exploitation of natural resources, ensuring the sustainability of the olive groves for future generations.
