Presentation of the department

Agriculture plays a dominant role in the Algerian economy, accounting for over a quarter of the working population and contributing approximately 10–15% of gross national production. The agri-food industry is a key industrial sector, ranking second only to hydrocarbons. Moreover, food accounts for nearly one-third of the country’s annual imports. However, significant challenges are emerging, particularly in the management of water and soil resources, underscoring critical issues for the country that are expected to grow in number and complexity in the future. Algeria benefits from a diverse range of landforms, climates, and natural resources, which, while offering substantial development potential, also present complex challenges in terms of achieving both growth and sustainability. Geography plays a fundamental role in this context. Economic activity unfolds within a defined territory that is not merely a passive space but a socially constructed one, endowed with intrinsic characteristics and value. Physical space is a finite and non-reproducible resource, meaning that any loss of space—whether due to urbanization, pollution, or desertification—is irreversible.

The Agriculture, Land and Environment Division, which is responsible for this area, is tasked with developing knowledge and techniques related to resource management, planning and assessment. It also works to strengthen national expertise by providing crucial support to researchers, including doctoral students, to enable them to complete their work in the optimum timeframe. The division is committed to filling existing gaps by providing the data needed to make informed decisions. It collaborates actively with the relevant institutions and administrations by concluding agreements and study and research contracts, thereby contributing to appropriate decisions and actions based on rigorous analyses.

The aim is to provide solutions to the major challenges facing the agricultural and environmental sectors, particularly in terms of food security, by taking into account emerging issues such as the water-energy-food nexus. At the same time, the division promotes innovative solutions for sustainable development, notably through the responsible management of natural resources and territories. A key aspect of this approach is agro-ecology, which aims to encourage farming practices that respect the environment, thereby contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems in the face of climate change.

Main axes research

• Food security
• Natural resource and environmental economics
• Dynamics of agricultural production systems
• Agri-food chains, market organization, and international integration
• Resource management, governance, and coordination in the agricultural sector

Research teams

• Team 1: Agri-food chains, actor strategies, and market organization
• Team 2: Dynamics of agricultural production systems
• Team 3: Governance, agricultural policies, and territorial development
• Team 4: Natural resource and environmental economics