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Boudjebel & EcoGuard: A Natural Innovation to Protect Tunisia’s Date Palms Takes Global Stage

At Boudjebel, we believe in innovation rooted in tradition — and in supporting solutions that protect the future of the Tunisian oasis.

This year, we had the immense pride of partnering with EcoGuard, a student-led project from Enactus Tunisia that just won 1st prize at the Action With Africa Challenge 2025 for their groundbreaking natural solution to combat Boufarwa, a devastating mite threatening our cherished date palms.

Now, this same team is set to represent Tunisia at the Enactus World Cup 2025 — taking place in Thailand at the end of September — where they will present EcoGuard on the global stage.

And we are proud to say: Boudjebel was on the ground with them from day one.

The Challenge: Protecting a Strategic Sector

The date palm sector is not just agricultural — it’s strategic. It supports thousands of rural jobs, underpins oasis economies, and represents a proud export tradition for Tunisia. But this sector faces real threats, and among them is Boufarwa, a microscopic mite that attacks date palms, damaging leaves, affecting fruit quality, and reducing yields.

Conventional treatment relies heavily on synthetic acaricides — often costly, environmentally damaging, and unsustainable.

 The EcoGuard Solution

EcoGuard offers a forward-thinking, bio-based alternative:

A formulation based on essential oils, derived from local plants, with acaricidal and repellent properties.

Developed by a team of students from Tunis Business School as part of Enactus Tunisia, the solution is designed to:

  • Kill or repel Boufarwa mites effectively
  • Be safe for the environment, non-toxic to humans and pollinators
  • Avoid chemical residues, supporting cleaner production and exports
  • Be scalable using locally available raw materials

Our Role: Field Partnership with Purpose

At Boudjebel, we provided access to real-world testing grounds in the heart of Tunisia’s oases. This included:

  • Pilot plots within commercial date plantations
  • Logistical support for application, monitoring, and evaluation
  • Technical collaboration to measure impact on tree health, fruit development, and feasibility under typical farmer conditions

By supporting field trials, we helped move EcoGuard from concept to validated pilot, giving the team the credibility and data needed to compete internationally.

Results and Strategic Impact

Early field trials show very promising reductions in mite populations, with no observable phytotoxicity or adverse impact on beneficial fauna. The implications could be game-changing:

  • Reduced chemical inputs → cleaner, more sustainable cultivation
  • Higher yields and fruit quality → increased farmer income and improved export potential
  • Local sourcing of oils → opportunities for value chains around medicinal/aromatic plants
  • Healthier ecosystems → better soil, water, and biodiversity outcomes in fragile oasis environments

What’s Next: The Enactus World Cup

Following their win at the Action With Africa Challenge, the EcoGuard team has earned a place to represent Tunisia at the Enactus World Cup, to be held in Thailand in late September 2025.

This is an opportunity not only for recognition, but also for building global partnerships, attracting investment, and scaling impact across other regions facing similar pest challenges.

Our Commitment

We at Boudjebel are proud to stand beside EcoGuard as a field partner, an advocate for sustainable agriculture, and a believer in Tunisian innovation.

We see this project as a symbol of what’s possible when science, entrepreneurship, and heritage come together — and we believe it can become a model for sustainable pest control in oasis systems worldwide.

As the EcoGuard team prepares for the Enactus World Cup, we remain committed to supporting them, and to expanding environmentally responsible practices across our supply chains and the wider date sector.

Follow the Journey

Stay tuned as EcoGuard takes the global stage — and follow us on social media to learn more about how we’re transforming the future of Tunisian date farming.

Together, let’s build a stronger, greener, and more resilient oasis.