Change in the strategy followed to achieve food security in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Food security is at the moment an important priority for Saudi Arabia, Especially that the Kingdom imports about (70% - 80%) of the basic needs of food commodities, and what this means from the threat of strategic food security, financial burden, With decline in oil prices over the last three decades. There are many indicators that refer to the beginning of the food crisis, As the average price of food has risen over the past decade about (30% -40%), Sudden inflation in food prices occurred, Expected increase in demand for food each year in the Kingdom, Because of the high population growth rate. To meet this increase in demand for food Kingdom resorted in the eighties of the last century to secure food to support local agriculture, especially wheat and barley. The cause of warnings by experts depletion of groundwater in the Kingdom, Began King Abdullah initiative to support agricultural investment abroad. So, The study concluded that the demand for food is increasing gap, Self-sufficiency in agricultural crops ratio decreases.  The study recommends the need to re-examine the decision to stop support for the cultivation of grain oriented, Building data base on agricultural investment initiative outside.