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Digitalization for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Potential, Status, and Risks for the MENA Region

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel A. Bahn

    (Food Security Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon)

  • Abed Al Kareem Yehya

    (Food Security Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon)

  • Rami Zurayk

    (Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management and Food Security Program, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107 2020, Lebanon)

Abstract

Digital technologies offer a potential solution to improve sustainability—economic, social, and environmental—of agri-food systems around the globe. While developed countries have led the innovation and adoption of digital agriculture, the potential impact in developing countries—including in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region—is massive. This article synthesizes existing evidence to review the potential and current contribution of digital technologies to the agri-food sectors in MENA. Digital agriculture shows promise in addressing the key challenges facing the agri-food sector across MENA countries. Improvements in primary production, supply chain and logistics performance, and optimized use of scarce natural resources (notably agricultural water) could be notable, if digital technologies can be implemented as envisioned. Available evidence shows that adoption of digital agriculture is at early stages, generally led by high-value agricultural production targeting domestic markets in Gulf countries and export markets in Mashreq countries. Economic sustainability appears the strongest force for current adoption, with less focus on social or environmental sustainability. Public policies should not only foster the adoption of digital technologies in MENA but also ensure equity of access, transparency of use, data protections, and labor protections. Policymakers should move beyond traditional, production-centric views to deliver also on social and environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel A. Bahn & Abed Al Kareem Yehya & Rami Zurayk, 2021. "Digitalization for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems: Potential, Status, and Risks for the MENA Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3223-:d:517241
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    2. Verónica Saiz-Rubio & Coral Ortiz & Antonio Torregrosa & Enrique Ortí & Montano Pérez & Andrés Cuenca & Francisco Rovira-Más, 2023. "Modelling Vineyard Spraying by Precisely Assessing the Duty Cycles of a Blast Sprayer Controlled by Pulse-Width-Modulated Nozzles," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Annalisa De Boni & Giovanni Ottomano Palmisano & Maria De Angelis & Fabio Minervini, 2022. "Challenges for a Sustainable Food Supply Chain: A Review on Food Losses and Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Nawab Khan & Ram L. Ray & Hazem S. Kassem & Sajjad Hussain & Shemei Zhang & Muhammad Khayyam & Muhammad Ihtisham & Simplice A. Asongu, 2021. "Potential Role of Technology Innovation in Transformation of Sustainable Food Systems: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-20, October.
    5. Javier Jorge-Vázquez & Mª Peana Chivite-Cebolla & Francisco Salinas-Ramos, 2021. "The Digitalization of the European Agri-Food Cooperative Sector. Determining Factors to Embrace Information and Communication Technologies," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-16, June.
    6. repec:ags:ijaeri:334605 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Ahmad Bathaei & Dalia Štreimikienė, 2023. "A Systematic Review of Agricultural Sustainability Indicators," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-19, January.
    8. Stylianos Ioannidis & Christos Karelakis & Zacharias Papanikolaou & George Theodossiou, 2022. "Exploring Digitalisation Adaptation of Agro-food Firms: Evidence from Greece," International Journal of Business and Economic Sciences Applied Research (IJBESAR), International Hellenic University (IHU), Kavala Campus, Greece (formerly Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Institute of Technology - EMaTTech), vol. 15(1), pages 94-104, July.

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