Can reductions in agricultural food losses avoid some of the trade-offs involved when safeguarding domestic food security? A case study of the Middle East and North Africa

Using the MAGNET model we find that stimulating agricultural growth by tackling food losses in the Middle East and North Africa outperforms manufacturing and service-led growth in terms of enhancing food security, reducing dependence on and vulnerability to changes in the world food market, and decreasing rural poverty. Whereas trade-offs occur in terms of production and employment in different sectors, this policy is potentially more beneficial by avoiding fiscal consequences of tax or subsidy policies. Costs associated with measures to reduce food losses may counteract beneficial impacts and should be avoided as much as possible.