Sustainable Transition for Agricultural Production and Livelihood in European and Southern Neighborhoods (STAPLES)

STAPLES( (“Sustainable Transition for Agricultural Production and Livelihood in European and Southern Neighborhoods”) is a prima project that addresses critical issues of food security in the MENA region, where countries heavily rely on cereal imports for their population’s dietary needs. Egypt and Morocco, among others, stand out as significant importers, highlighting the vulnerability of their food systems. Recognizing the necessity for a comprehensive approach, the project focuses on understanding the entire cereal value chain, domestically and globally. By integrating stakeholders’ knowledge and adopting a multi-dimensional strategy, the project aims to enhance the resilience of the MENA region’s food systems.

Lead by Politecnico Milano, the project brings together a number of partners in the Mediterranean region. The Economic Research Forum (ERF) plays a pivotal role in the STAPLES project by leading research and stakeholder engagement activities in Egypt. ERF conducts in-depth analysis of cereal value chains with an emphasis on trade policy, external stressors, and trade networks. It also contributes to the development of indices that will be featured in the STAPLES dashboard and supports the integration of local perspectives by facilitating engagement with national stakeholders and institutions.

Objectives

Understanding External Stressors

• Generate a better understanding for governments and economic actors involved in the cereal value chain in the MENA region of the external stressors and shocks that derive from global value chains (GVCs) and threaten local cereal supply chain and food security.

Developing Resilience Strategies

• Develop innovative solutions and evidence-based recommendations for strategies, action plans, and best practices that governments and economic actors of the MENA food systems along the cereal value chain can use to enhance system resilience and ensure food security.

Improve Preparedness

• Improve preparedness of governments and economic actors along the cereal value chain to anticipate and cope with external stressors by integrating new knowledge and data into a Decision Support System (DSS) for adopting solutions and best practices.

Learn More: Visit the STAPLES Project Website