December 10, 2014

In 2008, under a program aimed at attaining self-sufficiency, Saudi Arabia was able to produce 2 million tons of wheat, but soon rejected the program because of its negative effects upon the kingdom’s water resources. Every year since, Saudi Arabia has decreased its wheat production by 12.5%. This week, the kingdom’s newly appointed minister of agriculture announced that Saudi Arabia will stop all wheat production by 2016, relying instead solely on imports.  Since 2008 the kingdom’s wheat imports have increased from 300,000 tons to 3 million tons by the end of this year, making it the sixth largest wheat importer in the world. Both Saudi Arabia’s public and private sectors are working toward securing a stock of food to strengthen the kingdom’s position against any challenges that might arise from depending entirely upon international markets and suppliers. Part of this plan is to increase the country’s reserve of wheat from six months to one year. To read further about Saudi Arabia’s strategy moving forward:

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