Food Dependency in the Middle East and North Africa Region: Retrospective Analysis and Projections To 2050

Abstract

Intro -- Foreword -- References -- Contents -- Introduction: A Fragile Region Notable for Its Growing Dependence on Agricultural Imports -- References -- Chapter 1: Determinants of the Growing Food Dependence (1961-2011) -- 1.1 Food and Agricultural Demand: Growing and Changing in Nature -- 1.1.1 An Ongoing Nutritional Transition -- 1.1.1.1 Daily Calorie Intakes Approaching Western Levels -- 1.1.1.2 Growing Importance of Vegetable Oils and Sugar Products -- 1.1.2 Maintaining Some of the Characteristics of the Mediterranean Diet -- 1.1.2.1 The Persistence of a Low Share of Animal Products -- 1.1.2.2 The Importance of Cereals, Particularly Wheat, in the Diet -- 1.1.2.3 Fruit and Vegetables Remain an Important Feature -- 1.1.3 Through Animal Feed, the Demand for Animal Products Increases the Demand for Crops -- 1.1.3.1 Increased Consumption of Poultry Meat and Eggs… -- 1.1.3.2 …Which Increases the Significance of Maize and Soya Cake in Animal Feed -- 1.1.4 In Total, a Six-Fold Increase in the Regional Requirement for Plant Products -- 1.2 Limited Growth in Agricultural Production -- 1.2.1 Four-Fold Increase in Regional Crop Production -- 1.2.1.1 Increased Crop Production but Not in Line with Population Growth -- 1.2.1.2 The Structure of Crop Production Has Remained Almost Unchanged -- 1.2.2 Changes in Animal Production in Response to Changes in Domestic Demand -- 1.2.3 Agrifood Industries Limited to Primary Processing -- 1.2.4 Limited Resources and Low Efficiency of Production Factors -- 1.2.4.1 Poor Soil Resources and Constraint on Cultivable Land Already Reached -- 1.2.4.2 Water Constraint and Cropland Irrigation -- 1.2.4.3 Limited Improvement in Agricultural Labour Productivity -- 1.2.5 In Total, Agricultural Production Unable to Meet Regional Food Needs -- 1.3 Growing Need of Agricultural Imports -- 1.3.1 Strong Dependence on Cereals.