Algeria and Italian Group BF Launch Ambitious Durum Wheat Production Project in Timimoun
A major durum wheat production project, part of a partnership between Algeria and the Italian group Bonifiche Ferraresi (BF), is now underway. The first hectares have been sown in Timimoun, with the Italian side deploying significant resources, including high-powered tractors and advanced agricultural machinery.
The project stems from a framework agreement signed in July 2024 in Algiers between Algeria’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and BF. The initiative aims to establish an integrated production system for cereals, legumes, and pasta in the Timimoun region of southern Algeria. Covering 36,000 hectares, the project will focus on producing wheat, lentils, dry beans, and chickpeas, alongside the construction of processing units for pasta production.
During the signing ceremony, Italy’s Minister of Agriculture emphasized that the project would include technology transfer, a key component of the collaboration, according to official reports.
A Mega-Project with Cutting-Edge Technology
The Arabic-language daily Echorouk reported on February 26 that this massive project, with an investment exceeding €400 million, has officially commenced. The report highlighted the deployment of a pivot irrigation system and the start of sowing operations.
The scale of the project is unprecedented in Algeria, with the use of specialized equipment rarely seen in the country. A 12-meter-wide pneumatic seed drill from Väderstad, pulled by a 320-horsepower four-wheel-drive tractor, was transported from the port of Mostaganem and immediately put to work. Certified seeds were loaded directly using a telescopic arm loader from Manitou, bypassing traditional 50 kg seed bags.
The chosen seed drill model exemplifies modern agricultural practices, performing multiple tasks in a single pass: soil preparation, seed placement, and soil consolidation using a set of press wheels. This method reduces tractor passes, saving fuel and time while preserving soil moisture—a critical factor for successful crop establishment. The equipment also utilizes GPS technology for precision farming.
Additionally, Echorouk reported the arrival of 10 pivot irrigation systems at Mostaganem port, further underscoring the project’s scale and ambition.
Italian Expertise in Durum Wheat Production
Beyond the advanced machinery, the Algerian durum wheat sector stands to benefit significantly from Italian technological expertise. Algerian food processors seek high-quality durum wheat capable of producing premium semolina with a vibrant yellow color, essential for making pasta that maintains its texture during cooking.
Achieving these standards requires wheat grains free of blemishes and with a high protein content. BF, a leader in Italy’s agricultural sector, employs a vertically integrated approach, producing durum wheat on its farms or through contracted farmers, milling it in its own facilities, and selling pasta under its brand, Stagioni d’Italia. This “field-to-table” strategy ensures strict quality control across the entire value chain.
In Italy, BF uses the Senatore Cappelli wheat variety, renowned for its high protein content and resilience to adverse climatic conditions. Originally from the Maghreb region, this variety has been maintained in its pure form by the Italian public research body CREA, with exclusive rights granted to BF for seed multiplication and commercialization.
Technology Transfer: A Key Expectation
The success of the project hinges not only on the choice of wheat varieties but also on effective fertilizer management. Nitrogen fertilizers play a crucial role in determining semolina quality, with insufficient application reducing both semolina yield and protein content. Trials conducted by Algeria’s Technical Institute for Field Crops (ITGC) in northern regions have shown the benefits of splitting fertilizer applications up to three times during the crop cycle.
BF’s expertise in fertilizer management is highly anticipated, particularly in optimizing nitrogen use. Currently, Algerian farmers rely on urea-based fertilizers, which can lose up to 40% of their nitrogen content through volatilization. In Italy, farmers use fertilizers with added inhibitors and conduct regular soil analyses to maximize efficiency—practices that could be adopted in Timimoun.
The partnership is expected to span several years, with a focus on developing techniques to enhance soil fertility. Traditionally, oasis farmers in Algeria have enriched sandy soils with bentonite to improve water and nutrient retention. This practice reduces the need for continuous pump operation, which currently runs day and night to draw water from depths of up to 70 meters, significantly lowering electricity costs.
A Promising Start
The initial sowing operations in Timimoun, carried out using state-of-the-art equipment, mark the beginning of a potential technology transfer. Italian experts’ methods in field operations, as well as in primary (semolina) and secondary (pasta and couscous) processing, could provide valuable lessons for their Algerian counterparts.
This partnership with BF represents a novel approach to knowledge transfer, offering Algeria an opportunity to modernize its agricultural practices. Unlike previous decades of wheat imports from France, this collaboration could pave the way for sustainable, high-quality durum wheat production within the country.
