Algeria to cut US$10 billion food import bill through science and technology
Algeria is the second-largest importer of food in Africa after Egypt, and its dependence has deepened amid years of drought that have crippled agricultural productivity.
ALGERIA – Algeria plans to reduce its staggering USD 10 billion annual food import bill, with the government unveiling a new plan centered on science, technology, and innovation to strengthen domestic food production.
The latest move saw the creation of the National Scientific Council for Food Security, a strategic body established during the National Conference on the Modernization of the Agricultural Sector held on October 27–28, 2025, in Algiers.
The council is tasked with supporting the government’s goal of improving the agricultural sector’s resilience through scientific research and technological integration.
According to the Algeria Press Service (APS), the council will be chaired by Amar Azzioun, Director of the Constantine Biotechnology Research Center, and brings together 34 researchers and professors from agriculture-related fields, alongside representatives from various ministries.
The initiative reflects a decisive shift by the government to position science at the core of its national food security policy.
Algeria is the second-largest importer of food in Africa after Egypt, and its dependence has deepened amid years of drought that have crippled agricultural productivity. Declining rainfall has reduced water availability for irrigation and livestock, making local food production increasingly volatile.
According to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in its July 2025 report, The State of Commodity Dependence, Algeria imported nearly US$10 billion worth of food products annually between 2021 and 2023.
The imports are dominated by staples such as wheat, powdered milk, sugar, and edible oils, commodities that form the backbone of daily consumption.
The newly formed council aims to develop homegrown solutions to reverse this trend. By promoting research in biotechnology, crop genetics, and precision agriculture, the government hopes to boost yields, optimize water use, and cut dependency on external supplies.
Officials say the council will also facilitate collaboration between universities, research centers, and the agricultural industry to accelerate the adoption of new technologies.
“Scientific research must guide our efforts toward sustainable food sovereignty,” officials said at the conference, underscoring the government’s commitment to long-term agricultural transformation.
If effectively implemented, the new strategy could help Algeria shift from an import-driven food system to one grounded in innovation and local production, ensuring that science and technology become key drivers of agricultural resilience.
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