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Dr. Monika Tothova<\/a>, senior economist in Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented the context of food security dynamics in North Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n Main points:<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022 Global hunger did not change much from 2021 to 2022 but remains far above pre-pandemic levels.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Around 122 mln. more people in the world were facing hunger in 2022 than in 2019.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 In Africa, by contrast to other regions, the prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity increased in 2022.<\/p>\n \u2022 North Africa is the most food secure region on the continent. Nevertheless, local population faces malnutrition, which includes not only undernutrition, but also overnutrition and deficit of nutrients.<\/p>\n \u2022 Cereal production is unevenly distributed across the African continent. Western Africa is the leader. The production in North Africa is mostly rain-fed and therefore show high variability across the years (it is the second lowest after the Central Africa).\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Cereals account for 50% of the average daily kcal intake in Africa; wheat and rice are particularly important. Meanwhile, the share of \u00abtraditional cereals\u00bb (sorghum, pearl millet, finger millet, teff and African rice) in the local diets decrease due to urbanization and changing consumption preferences: it is easier for urban population, usually having more dynamic lifestyle than the rural population, to consume calories from wheat and rice. Overall, maize overtakes all of the cereals in terms of consumption importance.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Generally, in Africa around 70% of domestic utilization of cereals is covered by local production. This share is much lower in North Africa (about 40%) by contrast to Southern Africa (90%). Over the last five years, North Africa covered around 40% of domestic demand for wheat by own production. For corn and rice, these shares were 30% and 80%, respectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Agricultural policy of North African countries provides incentives to increase domestic production. For example, in Morocco, local farmers are supported via reference prices, storage premium and import duties.<\/p>\n \u2022 By contrast to other North African countries, Egyptian cereal production is almost entirely irrigated and shows relatively stable production. Meanwhile, Egypt sought to diversify its import base. In particular, India, Serbia, and Portugal were approved as new origins in the last season. The government allowed the state buyer GASC the right to contract directly with any government or company without the need to make an international tender as it was in the past.<\/p>\n \u2022 Generally, domestic consumption is increasing in all of the North African countries. This growth is constrained by low land and water availability, and adverse climate changes, which are reflected in more frequent occurrence of droughts.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 The growing demand in the region is based mostly on population growth while per capita consumption remains relatively stable.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Urbanization process in North Africa is ongoing. This makes food price shocks more politically sensitive given that urban population tends to strike in the periods of food inflation.\u00a0<\/p>\n Presentation<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dr. Pavlo Martyshev<\/a>, researcher at KSE Agrocenter, provided overview of strengths, challenges and cooperation options between Ukraine and North Africa in agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n Main points:<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022 Ukraine is the largest agricultural producer in Europe. In terms of grains exports, its contribution to global food security was equivalent to feeding about 332 mln. people in 2021 (in addition to its own population). However, the share of agriculture in gross value added dropped due to the war.<\/p>\n \u2022 Ukraine\u2019s grains and oilseeds production boomed over the last decades making the country the 3\u02b3\u1d48 place in corn exports, the 5\u1d57\u02b0 place in wheat exports, and 1\u02e2\u1d57 place in sunflower oil exports (as of 2021).<\/p>\n \u2022 By contrast to crop sector, livestock production in Ukraine was declining with only poultry production characterized by growth.<\/p>\n \u2022 Ukraine intensively trades with North African countries, especially Egypt. Ukrainian exports include mostly grains, oilseeds, and vegetable oils. Meanwhile, North African countries supply fruits, nuts, and vegetables to Ukraine.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Strong sides of Ukraine\u2019s agricultural sector are: favorable natural conditions, fast-growing sector of agricultural technologies, high competitiveness on the world market, synchronization with the EU quality and safety standards, modern digital tools used in agricultural policy, strong scientific base in some sectors.<\/p>\n \u2022 The main cooperation options between Ukraine and North Africa in agriculture include liberalization of cereals and vegetable oils exports as well as seed exports, common irrigation projects, synchronization of meat and dairy markets, development of agricultural extension services and education, exports of Specialized nutritious foods within the WFP programs.<\/p>\n \u2022 The partnership could be challenged by further war escalation in Ukraine, political instability in the Middle East and Africa regions, focus only on short-term trade operations, inconsistent macroeconomic and food policies in the partner countries.<\/p>\n Presentation<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prof. Dr. Abdelali Laamari<\/a>, professor in the National Institute for Agricultural Research (Morocco), presented the view from Morocco, strengths and challenges of the local agri-food sector and cooperation options.<\/p>\n Main points:<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022 The share of agriculture in Moroccan economy is high: 40% of the total employment and 12% of gross value added.<\/p>\n \u2022 The main challenges for local agriculture includes soil degradation, droughts, inefficient water management systems, disparities between large and small farms due to parceling of property, lack of sufficient investments, absence of proper diversification of crops, water scarcity, problems in research and innovation.<\/p>\n \u2022 Since 2008, local agricultural policy is aligned to Green Morocco Plan aimed to make the sector more transparent and ecologically-oriented.<\/p>\n \u2022 Ukraine is a promising market for Moroccan agri-food exports, particularly, in the segment of fruits, vegetables, fish, and fertilizers.<\/p>\n \u2022 Morocco is deeply integrated with other African countries within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and increases own presence on the continent.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Cooperation between Morocco and Ukraine could be conducted in such areas as: improvement of new plant varieties, capacity building and knowledge transfer in agricultural research, trade agreements, collaborative research on critical issues facing agriculture in Africa.<\/p>\n Presentation<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prof. Dr. Osama Naser El-Din Ahmed<\/a>, associate professor in the Agricultural economics department in Cairo University (Egypt) and research associate at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economies (IAMO) shared his view on Egyptian agricultural sector.<\/p>\n Main points:<\/b><\/p>\n \u2022 Egypt faces water scarcity which is deepening due to intensification of agriculture, river dams, and industrialization of the country. This creates the additional risks for local crop production given the increased frequency of extreme weather events.<\/p>\n \u2022 Soil erosion is another problem; it is exacerbated by urbanization, unsustainable agricultural practices, climatic factors, overexploitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Traditional farming practices in Egypt assumes the intensive use of pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and mixed seeds. This negatively affects productivity and human health.<\/p>\n \u2022 Egyptian agriculture shows high level of post-harvest losses due to the inadequate infrastructure: unpaved inner roads, outdated transport and storage facilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 Local farmers have low market access as they need to sell own products with discount to wholesalers which have market power.<\/p>\n \u2022 Agricultural extension services are underdeveloped in Egypt due to the lack of qualified specialists, transport facilities, low financial support.<\/p>\n \u2022 Growing population challenges food security in the country as it increases the intensity of using limited natural resources in agriculture.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u2022 The potential collaboration between Ukraine and North African countries could be implemented in the form of agribusiness hub (online or on-site) which ensures smooth exchange of technologies and stimulates bilateral trade.<\/p>\n Presentation<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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