The Food Security Dynamic in MENA Countries: How Should Policies be Distinctive?

Abstract

Key Outcomes:
- Food security in the Arab world is a seasonal event that triggers debate and discourse during transitory shocks caused by external factors (e.g., war in Ukraine), and causes disruption in the price and food supply chain.

- The nature of the shift and diversity in consumption patterns in the Arab world is caused either by a change in the lifestyle due to the change in living standards, or by the significant food assistance over decades, in which traditional approaches to the food security do not seem to be working and require a shift towards a more dynamic and mixed approach.

- Innovative solutions and revisiting the entirety of the food security approach require a mixed approach to food security to make the most out of commodity markets to support and smooth consumption and avoid transitory food deficits for countries during price hikes and to stabilize the prices accompanied with building grain storage strategy as part of the precautionary strategies for unusual times.