Volume 24

Le rôle de l’agriculture intelligente dans le renforcement de l’approvisionnement alimentaire en Algérie : tendances et perspectives de la production végétale (2020–2026) Dr. Habbes Noura*1, Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, Faculty of Economics, Commercial Sciences and Management Sciences, Chlef, Algeria, Euro-Mediterranean Economic Research and Studies Laboratory, Email: n.habbes@univ-chlef.dz Dr. Ahlem Henni2, Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, Faculty of Economics, Commercial Sciences and Management Sciences, Chlef, Algeria, Email: a.henni@univ-chlef.dz Dr. Bouali Razika3, Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, Faculty of Economics, Commercial Sciences and Management Sciences, Chlef, Algeria, laboratory of financial systems and economic policies Email: r.bouali@univ-chlef.dz Dr. Mohamed Hammou4, Hassiba Benbouali University of Chlef, Faculty of Economics, Commercial Sciences and Management Sciences, Chlef, Algeria, Euro-Mediterranean Economic Research and Studies Laboratory, Email: m.hammou@univ-chlef.dz Received: 05/03/2026          Accepted: 10/07/2026           Published: 10/09/2026 Abstract: This study examines the role of smart agriculture in strengthening food supplies in Algeria by analysing crop-production trends during 2020–2026, with particular attention to cereals, vegetables, fruits, and pulses. The central question is: To what extent can smart agriculture contribute to strengthening food supplies in Algeria in light of crop-production developments during 2020–2026? The study adopts a descriptive, analytical, and prospective approach based on available official statistics from the Algerian National Office of Statistics, the Food and Agriculture Organization, Algerian government sources, and the scientific literature. The findings indicate substantial volatility in Algerian crop production, particularly cereals, due to rainfall variability and drought, while vegetables, especially potatoes, provide a comparatively stronger domestic supply base. Algeria is also moving from administrative digitalisation toward more integrated agricultural information systems, including sectoral digital platforms and a national agricultural information system launched in 2026. Nevertheless, smart agriculture is not yet a generalized production model and remains constrained by digital infrastructure, cost, skills, and data quality. The study argues that its principal contribution lies in improving water and input efficiency, raising productivity, reducing losses, and strengthening production and risk forecasting, provided that digital technologies are integrated into coherent agricultural, water, and institutional policies. Keywords: Smart agriculture; Food supply; Food security; Precision agriculture; Artificial intelligence; Remote sensing; Crop production; Algeria. Résumé: Cette étude examine le rôle de l’agriculture intelligente dans le renforcement de l’approvisionnement alimentaire en Algérie en analysant les tendances de la production végétale durant la période 2020–2026, avec une attention particulière portée aux céréales, aux légumes, aux fruits et aux légumineuses. La question centrale est la suivante : dans quelle mesure l’agriculture intelligente peut-elle contribuer au renforcement de l’approvisionnement alimentaire en Algérie à la lumière de l’évolution de la production végétale durant la période 2020–2026 ? L’étude adopte une approche descriptive, analytique et prospective fondée sur les statistiques officielles disponibles de l’Office National des Statistiques, de l’Organisation des Nations Unies pour l’alimentation et l’agriculture, des sources gouvernementales algériennes et de la littérature scientifique. Les résultats indiquent une forte volatilité de la production végétale algérienne, notamment des céréales, en raison de la variabilité des précipitations et de la sécheresse, tandis que les légumes, en particulier les pommes de terre, constituent une base d’approvisionnement intérieur comparativement plus solide. L’Algérie évolue également d’une numérisation administrative vers des systèmes d’information agricoles plus intégrés, notamment des plateformes numériques sectorielles et un système national d’information agricole lancé en 2026. Néanmoins, l’agriculture intelligente ne constitue pas encore un modèle de production généralisé et demeure limitée par les infrastructures numériques, les coûts, les compétences et la qualité des données. L’étude soutient que sa principale contribution réside dans l’amélioration de l’efficacité de l’utilisation de l’eau et des intrants, l’augmentation de la productivité, la réduction des pertes et le renforcement de la prévision de la production et des risques, à condition que les technologies numériques soient intégrées dans des politiques agricoles, hydriques et institutionnelles cohérentes. Mots-clés : Agriculture intelligente ; approvisionnement alimentaire ; sécurité alimentaire ; agriculture de précision ; intelligence artificielle ; télédétection ; production végétale ; Algérie. Introduction: Food supplies have become a strategic issue that goes far beyond merely increasing production volume, as they are intrinsically linked to the agricultural system’s capacity to provide food consistently in the face of drought, price volatility, climate shocks, and supply chain disruptions. This challenge is particularly acute in arid and semi-arid countries facing intense competition among various uses of water and land. Within this environment, smart agriculture has emerged as a paradigm combining agricultural knowledge, digital technologies, remote sensing, data analytics, and automation to optimize production decisions. Literature indicates that smart agriculture represents an evolution from precision agriculture and digital farming. Practices have shifted from the use of global positioning systems and field mapping to interconnected systems capable of capturing, analysing, and acting upon real-time data concerning soil, crops, weather, and water. Wolfert et al. (2017, pp. 69–71) emphasize that the value of agricultural data depends not on its volume, but on the system’s capacity to integrate and translate it into actionable decisions. Furthermore, Klerkx et al. (2019, pp. 1–5) demonstrate that digitalisation reshapes the relationships among producers, advisors, institutions, and markets. Algeria faces severe water and climatic pressures that make efficient production management an imperative priority. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) notes that Algeria suffers from extreme water stress, exacerbated by climate change and population growth, making improved water productivity a central challenge for resilient agriculture (FAO, 2026). Consequently, exploring smart agriculture in Algeria should not be confined to technical dimensions; rather, it must be linked directly to food supply dynamics and the capacity of domestic production to mitigate deficits. The period 2020–2026 underscores this critical linkage. Cereal production experienced a sharp decline in 2020/2021, followed by a recovery in 2021/2022 and subsequent fluctuations, whereas vegetables—most notably potatoes—achieved high production levels. In June 2026, the FAO projected cereal production approaching five million tonnes, representing roughly 30% above average, supported by favourable rainfall between December 2025 and April 2026 and improved reservoir levels (FAO GIEWS, 2026). This suggests that Algerian cereal production can improve substantially under favourable climatic conditions, while remaining highly vulnerable to climatic variability, yet remains highly vulnerable to climatic volatility. Problem Statement: To what extent can smart agriculture contribute to strengthening […]