African Journal of
Agricultural Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Agric. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1991-637X
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJAR
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 6900

Full Length Research Paper

Food transition in the Gulf Cooperation Council Region

ELSHEIKH Omer Elgaili
  • ELSHEIKH Omer Elgaili
  • Agricultural Economics Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460 Riyadh 14511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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ALDERINY Mahmoud Mohamed
  • ALDERINY Mahmoud Mohamed
  • Agricultural Economics Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460 Riyadh 14511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Google Scholar
ALKAHTANI Safar H. Abdullah
  • ALKAHTANI Safar H. Abdullah
  • Agricultural Economics Department, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, P. O. Box 2460 Riyadh 14511, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  • Google Scholar


  •  Received: 15 November 2019
  •  Accepted: 11 February 2020
  •  Published: 29 February 2020

Abstract

This study investigates (and forecasts) food consumption patterns in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region from 1961 to 2023. A vector auto-regressive model (VAR) was used to estimate systems of equations of per capita food consumption of major food items, and their trends over time, for the purpose of highlighting changes in the region’s dietary patterns. The study area had shown symptoms of diet transition marked by a shift toward consuming more sugar and animal products, and fewer vegetables and cereals. These changes have been accompanied by substantial food waste and an increase in diet-related diseases. The region needs to develop policy programs that combine government action, research, education, and mass media communication programs to raise public awareness about the benefits of diet and exercise, and to promote more healthful eating patterns.

Key words: Diet transition, food consumption, waste, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).