The Arab world currently imports approximately 50% of its food needs, a figure that makes the region vulnerable to global market fluctuations and geopolitical shocks. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the global food import bill is expected to reach $2 trillion in 2023, a 1.8% increase from 2022. The OECD and FAO also estimate that the Near East and North Africa region will record a net food trade deficit of $106 billion by 2033, compared to an average of $78 billion between 2021 and 2023. This heavy reliance on imports reflects structural flaws in agricultural production policies, which lack long-term strategic visions. Amid the successive and recurring international crises, the fragility of existing systems is exposed, as prices continue to rise, increasing pressure on Arab economies and exacerbating the suffering of the most vulnerable groups.

At the same time, the situation is exacerbated by climate change, which has become an unprecedented factor affecting agricultural production. Arab countries, most of which are located in arid and semi-arid regions, suffer from persistent drought and scarce water resources, threatening the future and productivity of traditional agriculture. Rising temperatures and soil degradation are among the most significant challenges affecting crop productivity, making the need to adopt innovative agricultural technologies and sustainable natural resource management more urgent than ever.

Rapid population growth adds another dimension to this crisis, as demand for food increases exponentially while production capacity fails to keep pace. This growth is putting pressure on already strained natural resources and infrastructure. In countries torn apart by armed conflict, such as Yemen, Syria, and Libya, the situation is even more complex, with destroyed agricultural infrastructure and millions displaced, exacerbating food insecurity.

Despite this bleak picture, there are real opportunities for a shift toward food sovereignty, a concept that goes beyond self-sufficiency to encompass the right of peoples to determine their food systems in line with their local needs. Food sovereignty is not merely a development goal; it is a strategy for liberating economic decisions from external hegemony and strengthening national capacities to confront global crises.

The shift towards food sovereignty requires bold and focused investments in the agricultural sector. Arab countries must adopt modern technologies such as precision agriculture and artificial intelligence, which improve production efficiency and reduce waste. Vertical farming and hydroponics also represent promising solutions for regions suffering from water and arable land scarcity. This shift must be accompanied by investment in research and development, where research centers can play a pivotal role in developing solutions tailored to the region’s climatic and environmental characteristics.

Regional cooperation is a fundamental pillar for achieving food security in this area. Arab countries face a critical requirement: to work as a unified bloc to coordinate agricultural and trade policies and expand the scope of integration between resource-rich countries and those suffering from food deficits. Sudan, for example, possesses enormous untapped potential in agriculture and is a candidate to become a regional food basket if its resources are invested jointly within a comprehensive Arab cooperation framework. Establishing an Arab investment fund to finance major agricultural projects in Sudan and other promising countries could represent a fundamental turning point. This fund would serve as a strategic tool for achieving long-term goals, while ensuring that the benefits of these investments benefit all parties.

But real transformation is not limited to technical and economic policies; it requires reshaping the relationship between societies and food systems. Education and awareness of the importance of food security and sustainability must be part of school curricula, and expanding individual participation in the planning and implementation of national agricultural initiatives can make a fundamental difference. It is also essential to address the issue of food waste, a major challenge in many Arab countries, through awareness campaigns and incentive policies to reduce waste at both the individual and institutional levels. Statistics indicate that losses resulting from food loss and waste across value chains in the Middle East and North Africa region are estimated at more than $60 billion annually, with an individual share of approximately 250 kilograms annually.

In short, food security is an issue linked to national security and regional stability. Therefore, achieving food sovereignty is a strategic imperative, but it requires a forward-looking vision and political will that goes beyond mere temporary solutions. National policies must therefore allocate budgets toward investment in agriculture and modern technology, both of which serve as a strategic path toward a more sustainable future. The call here is to restore the region’s role as an economic and strategic engine in the global system, as well as to transform into a model that emulates best practices in sustainable agriculture and self-sufficiency production.