The Problem: A Costly Blind Spot
In Tunisia, post-harvest cereal losses represent 10–15% of production, equivalent to 400,000 tons and 330 million TND in lost revenue every year. Wheat storage is especially exposed to infestations of Tribolium spp., which alone cause storage losses of up to 20% a year — roughly 60,000 tons and 66,000 TND in lost revenue. This degrades grain quality, lowers market value, and creates health risks for consumers. Today, the fight against these pests relies almost entirely on synthetic chemical insecticides. The market offers few effective natural alternatives, while Tribolium castaneum is becoming increasingly resistant to conventional insecticides, requiring ever-higher doses. At the same time, natural compounds — essential oils in particular — are unstable and highly volatile, making them difficult to apply directly without a proper formulation. Each year, an estimated 66,000 tons of wheat are destroyed by pests, affecting some 70,000 Tunisian cereal farmers. ** The Solution: A Natural Repellent Sachet for Stored Grain**
BIOCURA is a natural repellent for protecting stored cereals, delivered as diffusing sachets containing an absorbent powder. The principle: a high-adsorption powder (precipitated amorphous silica) is loaded with Artemisia herba-alba (white wormwood) essential oil, known for its repellent and insecticidal properties against stored-product pests, notably Tribolium castaneum. The impregnated powder is then packaged into biodegradable, cellulose-based sachets. Placed directly in silos or grain storage spaces, the sachets work through the progressive release of volatile compounds: the scent acts as an olfactory barrier that keeps insects from colonizing the grain, while inhalation of the active compounds also has a toxic effect that limits their proliferation. The result is natural protection for stored cereals that reduces reliance on chemical insecticides.
Impact
● Social — reduces post-harvest losses from storage pests, improves grain quality and preservation, and strengthens food security in Tunisia ● Economic — offers a local, more affordable alternative to imported products and cuts costs linked to infestations and repeated chemical treatment ● Environmental — cuts the use of synthetic chemical insecticides and promotes a biodegradable, cellulose-based solution ● Health — reduces the exposure of workers and consumers to chemical pesticide residues in cereals This work contributes to five UN Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and 15 (Life on Land).
Traction & Partnerships
● Research & development: Mr. Mohamed Ali Lassaoud (Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir) on formulation, and Ms. Dalila Haouas (Higher School of Agriculture) on lab trials validating repellent efficacy ● Testing & validation: Institute of Arid Regions of Gabès for lab trials, and the Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir for the pilot batch ● First customers: direct sales to cereal farmers in the Kairouan region generated 7,400 TND in revenue from 3 clients, for a net income of 1,100 TND
Our Vision BIOCURA aims to give Tunisian farmers a natural, affordable, and locally rooted alternative to chemical pesticides — turning a desert plant into a practical tool for protecting the nation’s grain, cutting post-harvest losses, and building a more sustainable model for cereal storage across the region.