Developing the edible wild mushroom sector in Tunisia - The Micosylva project

Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) in Tunisia offer an important potential for rural development contributing to diversification of rural economic activities and to increase households incomes while protecting and increasing the value of natural resources. All matter-experts would agree that these products complement the household’s agricultural production, providing food, products for medicinal use, fodder and food supplements for livestock, etc. Among these products, the edible wild mushrooms of commercial value. These mushrooms attracted the interest of European markets and, to a lesser extent, at national and local level. With the lack of knowledge and expertise on the ecological and socio-economic value of edible mushrooms, this product is undervalued and not economically developed. The objective of this paper is to provide insights on the value chain of wild edible mushrooms in Tunisia. The study also presents the example of Micosylva project as a pilot experience in the Euro-Mediterranean region and which may be replicated in Tunisia to improve knowledge bases on wild edible fungi and the development of its value chain