Policies for Arab Integration into Global Food Markets and Arab Domestic Agriculture

The World Bank/FAO/IFAD report (World Bank 2009a) on food security in the Arab world suggested three routes to deal with future food price shocks and improve food security in the region: (1) better social safety nets and improved family planning and education; (2) enhanced food supply by improving domestic agriculture as well as rural livelihoods more generally; and (3) reduced exposure to market volatility via better integration into global food markets, improved supply chain efficiency and use of financial instruments. We examine each of these areas in turn, going beyond the analysis provided in the World Bank report. In this chapter we look at the two macro-level areas — better integration into global food markets and improvements to domestic agriculture. In the next chapter we look at more micro-level issues surrounding the reform of social safety net programmes in the Arab world.