Food Losses and Wastage along the Wheat Value Chain in Egypt and Their Implications on Food and Energy Security, Natural Resources, and the Environment

Yigezu A. Yigezu, Moustafa A. Moustafa, Mohamed M. Mohiy, Shaimaa E. Ibrahim, Wael M. Ghanem, Abdoul-Aziz Niane, Enas Abbas, Sami R. S. Sabry and Habib Halila
Additional contact information
Yigezu A. Yigezu: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Cairo 11711, Egypt
Moustafa A. Moustafa: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Mohamed M. Mohiy: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Shaimaa E. Ibrahim: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Wael M. Ghanem: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Abdoul-Aziz Niane: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Dubai 13979, United Arab Emirates
Enas Abbas: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Sami R. S. Sabry: Agricultural Research Center (ARC) of Egypt, Cairo 12619, Egypt
Habib Halila: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Tunis 1302, Tunisia
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Enas Moh. Abbas SALEH

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 18, 1-23

Abstract: 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 m 3 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.

Keywords: wheat; value chain; food loss; food waste; food and energy security; natural resources and environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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