Agri-Food Markets in Qatar: Drivers, Trends, and Policy Responses

Tarek Ben Hassen, Hamid El Bilali and Mohammed Al-Maadeed
Additional contact information
Tarek Ben Hassen: Department of International Affairs, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar
Hamid El Bilali: International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM-Bari), Via Ceglie 9, 70010 Valenzano (Bari), Italy
Mohammed Al-Maadeed: Master Program in Gulf Studies, Gulf Studies Center, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, P.O. Box: 2713, Doha, Qatar

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 9, 1-31

Abstract: Agri-food markets are vital in achieving food security, especially for resource-poor, food-importing countries such as Qatar. The paper provides an overview of the evolution of agri-food markets in Qatar and explores the implications of past and ongoing changes in terms of food security and food system sustainability. In particular, the review analyzes drivers of changes, trends, and challenges as well as policy responses to address the emerging challenges while ensuring the country’s food security. It draws upon a systematic review of scholarly literature indexed in the Web of Science as well as data from gray literature (e.g., reports) and databases (e.g., FAOSTAT). Different drivers (e.g., population growth with huge expatriate inflow, urbanization, income increase) affected the functioning of agri-food markets as well as the structure of the food chain (viz. production, processing, distribution, consumption) in Qatar. In addition to drivers, the food-related trends were also shaped by numerous environmental (e.g., land/water scarcity), economic, health, and trade challenges. To ensure long-term food and nutrition security for its population, Qatar implemented various policies and strategies (e.g., National Food Security Strategy 2018–2023). In this context, agri-food markets, as functional links between production and consumption, can foster transition towards sustainable food consumption and production patterns in Qatar.

Keywords: agricultural market; food market; agriculture; Qatar; Gulf Cooperation Council; food policy; food security; nutrition; food import; climate change; environmental footprints (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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