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Wheat is the world"s most widely cultivated cereal. By 2050, global demand for wheat is projected to increase by 60%. In the CWANA region which ICARDA is tasked to serve, wheat is the basic staple and food security crop, contributing over 60% of people"s daily calorific and protein needs. Due to the large proportion of subsistence farmers, wheat production also has a major impact on household food security. Despite this, the productivity of wheat in the region is very low (less than 2.5 t/ha) due largely to the major abiotic (drought, cold, heat, salinity) and biotic (stripe rust, leaf rust, stem rust and Hessian fly) stresses encountered. Most countries in the region are net importers of wheat for human consumption, with regional demand predicted to continue rising. Egypt alone currently imports 9 million tons annually. The situation is further complicated by food production shortfalls associated with climate change which can cause food crises, civil unrest and even migration. The wheat breeding program at ICARDA has developed high yielding and heat tolerant wheat genotypes which have been tested and released as cultivars by many countries in the CWANA region. Out-scaling and intensification of wheat cultivars combined with other improved crop management practices have been carried out by ICARDA in partnership with the national programs in Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen resulting with an average increase of wheat production by 28%. The result clearly indicates that development and utilization of climate smart wheat technologies including high yielding and stress tolerant cultivars; integrated crop management systems; establishment of conducive policies and infrastructures are crucial to increase productivity and ensure food and nutrition security.

Countries in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region are dependent on imports of wheat to meet their food security needs. Mechanized raised-bed wheat production is an effective means of increasing productivity and saving scarce water, but the technology needs substantial adaptation to local conditions. This paper estimates the economic benefits from a long-term adaptive research project designed to adapt and promote mechanical raised-bed wheat production in Egypt. The technology itself is associated with a 25% increase in productivity due to higher yields, 50% lower seed costs, a 25% reduction in water use, and lower labor costs. The mechanical raised-bed program is now a component of Egypt's national wheat campaign and it is estimated that by 2023 approximately 800,000 ha of wheat will be planted with the technology. This paper estimates that over a 15 year project horizon, the benefits will exceed US$ 4 billion, with most of the benefits accruing to more than one million Egyptian wheat producers. Other benefits include reduced wheat imports (by more than 50% by 2025), reduced dependence on international commodity markets and increased productivity on more than 200,000 ha of water-starved lands.

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Several research and development efforts have been made to ensure food security in developing countries. Dissemination of improved agricultural technologies was used as the main avenue through which some increases in food supply have been achieved. However, food insecurity remains a major challenge. This paper argues and provides empirical evidence that reducing food loss and waste can be an effective food and energy security, and natural resource, and environmental conservation strategy. Following the life cycle framework, the annual amount of wheat-based food lost or wasted from farm-to-fork in Morocco was estimated at 4 million tons (equivalent to 36% of total supply) valued at US$1.0 billion. Among all nodes, the magnitudes of farm management-related losses, wastage during consumption, and storage losses rank first to third accounting for about 17.4%, 7.92%, and 7.06%, respectively of total wheat supply in the country. Were these losses and wastes entirely prevented, Morocco would have been able to feed 29.3 million more people, or save 1.79 million hectares of land, 2.66 billion m3 of water, and 64.28 million GJ of energy, and prevented the emission from landfills of at least 16.61 million kg of methane annually. Besides the ongoing efforts to disseminate agricultural technologies, the Moroccan government needs to develop short- and medium-term national strategies to reduce food losses and wastage particularly targeting the storage and consumption nodes. Replacing bread subsidy with food vouchers targeting only the needy and creation of public awareness about the magnitudes and consequences of food loss and wastage alone may go long way in reducing them.

Pushing yield frontiers of cereals and legumes is becoming increasingly difficult, especially in drylands. This paper argues and provides empirical evidence that food loss and wastage constitute a sizeable proportion of the total wheat supply in Egypt. By following the life cycle of food and using standard measurement protocols, we estimated the levels of food loss and wastage along the wheat value chain in Egypt and their socioeconomic, biophysical, and environmental implications. About 4.4 million tons (20.62% of total wheat supply from domestic production and imports in 2017/2018) is estimated to be lost or wasted in Egypt which is also associated with the wastage of about 4.79 billion m3 of water, and 74.72 million GJ of energy. This implies that if Egypt manages to eliminate, or considerably reduce, wheat-related losses and wastage, it will save enough food to feed 21 million more people from domestic production and hence reduce wheat imports by 37%, save 1.1 billion USD of much-needed foreign exchange, and reduce emissions of at least 260.84 million kg carbon dioxide-equivalent and 8.5 million kg of methane. Therefore, investment in reducing food loss and wastage can be an effective strategy to complement ongoing efforts to enhance food security through productivity enhancement in Egypt.

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In addition to their role in hUman nutrition, food legumes are an integral part of farming systems world wide. Their role in diversifying cropping systems and in maintaining soil fertility to sustain agricultural production is being realized increasingly among scientists and policy makers in most developing countries. Current (1996) world production is around 57 million tonnes. The population in developing countries is expected to be 6.06 billion by 20 I 0, and the demand for food legumes is expected to be around 110.65 million lonnes. This poses a challenge to scientists and policy makers to meet this demand. The growth trends during 1990-94 for arca, production, and productivity globally were negative, with few exceptions. Many countries in Asia need to inCrc.1se production by at least 50% by 2010, and double it by 2020, to meet the needs of the growing population. The current research and development (R&D) thrusts, in developing countries, are gearcd towards increased production, but with varied success. An increased reliance on plant breeding and extensive cultivation of legumes in marginal arcas has lead to over-exploitation of the limited genetic resourees (breeding for adaptation to harsh conditions thus losing genes for high yield). Some national governments (eg Turkey and India) have programs to increase production. The early successes have plateaued, and shifts in direction are needed. Research infrastructure, staff, and funding for agricultural research are inadequate in most developing countries. Compared to 3.29% of agricultural gross domestic product (GDP) invested in R&D by the developed cOllntries, the developing countries were spending on average only 0.39% in the late 19805. This has declined further in the 19905. The major proportion (50 to 75%) of the R&D funds in the developing countries is allocated to sk1plc cereals, and only a small portion of the remaining budget is available for legumes. AltllOUgh there arc specialized research institutes or programs for major cereals, food legumes arc lumped together and hence ICSCIU' ch cfforts are scattered and superficial when compared with cereals. TIle following strategies arc suggested to strengthen support for food legume research. Integrated cropping systeras management (variety + agronomic practices + crop rotations) to bridge the yield gap in different agroclimatic conditions. Initiate strategic research to breach yield ceilings, and to develop cultivars that can produce high and stable yields in better-endowed environments and thus compete with cereals. Strengthen research collaboration within and among national programs and with the international agricultural research centers. Increased role of regional, networks and working groups to enhance technical cooperation among developing countries (rCDe). Increase the collaboration between public and private sectors and exploit their comparative advantages to Ilehicve mutual goals. Create Food Legume Councils (that include fanners, traders, and exporters) which support R&D by levying laxes or cessc...