Navigating crises and restoring ecosystems
FAO Bulletin Tracks Food Policy and Environmental Action in the Near East and North Africa
The recent Food Policy Monitoring Bulletin, issued quarterly by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), offers a snapshot of food security dynamics, policy shifts, and ecosystem restoration efforts in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The bulletin opens with an analysis of global food prices, noting an increase of1.9 percent in the FAO Food Price Index from January to March. This increase is mainly due to higher wheat and corn prices, while rice continues its downward trend. Within the NENA region, prices remained mostly stable, with moderate increases in Algeria, Kuwait, and the Sudan.
Crop prospects across the region are strained by low rainfall, especially in Morocco, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq. Morocco faces its fourth consecutive year of below-average wheat yields. In contrast, Egypt reports stable conditions due to irrigated agriculture. Libya, however, continues to grapple with extreme weather, locusts, and conflict.
Conflict remains a key driver of food insecurity. Over 90 percent of Gaza’s population is facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse food insecurity. In the Sudan, 24.6 million people are projected to be acutely food insecure. While Lebanon has seen slight improvement, Syria continues to face severe food shortages.
The bulletin also highlights recent policy actions. Morocco is boosting wheat imports from the Russian Federation and investing in climate-resilient farming. Egypt increased its wheat procurement target and secured a USD 700 million loan to support imports, while reintroducing nutrient fortification in Baladi bread. Saudi Arabia is expanding poultry production and green technology investments, while the United Arab Emirates continues to position itself as a regional agricultural technology leader.
Trade and investment trends show increased regional cooperation. Morocco has expanded wheat and olive oil trade with the Russian Federation and Brazil while increasing citrus exports to Japan and China. Egypt has strengthened agricultural ties with China and Canada, while Mauritania regained duty-free access to the US market under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
The focus section of this bulletin highlights the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The NENA region has lost 12.75 percent of forest cover since 1990. Restoration efforts remain underfunded, with a USD 332 billion funding gap to meet 2030 targets. In response, FAO has launched a Regional Investment Framework and is tracking over 1 million hectares under restoration through the FAO-led Framework for Ecosystem Restoration Monitoring (FERM). To address growing food security and environmental challenges, the region will rely on better policy coordination, increased investment, and innovative technologies. The upcoming Investment Forum in September 2025, hosted by the Near East Forestry and Range Commission, will support efforts to restore ecosystems and build climate resilience. FAO is collaborating with national authorities, development partners, and the private sector to expand sustainable land practices and strengthen agrifood systems for long-term stability.