The Middle East is an important site of early settled agriculture, the center of origin and diversity of several major cereal and legume crops, and of the early domestication of sheep and goats, but due to the severe harsh environment, The MENA region is generally characterized by food shortage in most of the food commodities.

The MENA region is a difficult environment for agriculture. Land and water are scarce, and both rain-fed and irrigated land in use suffer from ongoing degradation caused by wind and water erosion and unsustainable farming practices. In most countries, farms are quite small.

The Middle East and Africa region’s food basket was valued at USD380 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 33% during the period 2022-2027. The rise in the purchasing power of millennials and a significant proportion of the affluent population in these countries, it will attract more foreign players to launch their food products in the region.

The Middle East North Africa region and particularly the GCC countries have emerged as a key market for FMCG products. The growing middle-class population, high urbanization rates, expanding retail infrastructure, and increasing number of tourists in countries such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia have fueled the demand for consumer goods. Moreover, the young and digitally-savvy population in the region is driving the adoption of e-commerce platforms for FMCG purchases, presenting new opportunities for both local and global players.