Strengthening Food Supply Chains to Support Food Security in Jordan

By: Professor Louay Jreisat – Faculty Member at the College of Administrative Studies, Arab Open University – Jordan, and Expert in Supply Chain Management and Marketing

Jordan faces growing challenges related to food security due to limited natural resources, climate change, and a high dependence on food imports, in addition to the impacts of economic crises and regional and global disruptions. Amid the current geopolitical situation and ongoing conflicts in the region, food supply chains have become increasingly vulnerable, potentially affecting the stability of food availability and pricing.

In response to these challenges, the Jordanian government launched the National Food Security Strategy 2021–2030, aiming to build a more resilient and sustainable national food system and to ensure continuous and safe access to food for all citizens. The strategy is based on the four pillars of food security:

• Food availability through enhancing local production and diversifying import sources.
• Food access by improving market and supply chain efficiency and reducing logistical costs.
• Food utilization through ensuring quality and safety, and promoting healthier dietary patterns.
• Food stability by strengthening the ability to withstand economic or political shocks.
• In addition, the strategy emphasizes institutional governance by developing policies, legal and financial frameworks, procedures, and capacity building, as well as updating regulations governing the food and agricultural sectors.

Agricultural and food supply chains play a pivotal role in achieving the strategy's objectives, linking agricultural production with local and international markets. These chains cover all stages—from production, post-harvest handling, storage, and food processing to transportation, distribution, and marketing. Developing these supply chains contributes to:

• Connecting supply and demand sustainably while ensuring smooth flows of products, information, and finances.
• Reducing food loss and waste.
• Improving logistics and operational efficiency for agricultural and food products.
• Supporting small and medium-sized farmers and other stakeholders by integrating them into organized markets.
• Enhancing the competitiveness of local products in domestic, regional, and global markets.
•  

Progress toward achieving the strategy's objectives must be monitored through clear and smart indicators that measure the performance of the national food system, including food availability, supply chain efficiency, and market stability. Jordan also seeks to improve its international standing by advancing Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing its ranking on global indices such as the Global Food Security Index and the Global Hunger Index. A detailed implementation plan is required, including short-, medium-, and long-term interventions, with prioritized actions based on national needs and risk levels related to food security. The strategy also aims to strengthen integration and coordination between existing national and sectoral strategies in agriculture, trade, industry, and economic development to ensure a comprehensive and cohesive response to food security challenges.

Ultimately, developing agricultural and food supply chains in Jordan represents an innovative and essential tool for strengthening national food security, particularly in the face of current regional and economic challenges. Through implementing the National Food Security Strategy and enhancing a smart system that links supply with demand, Jordan can build a more resilient and sustainable food system capable of meeting population needs and ensuring long-term stability of agricultural and food markets within an innovative, comprehensive framework.