Greening agrifood systems in the Near East and North Africa: how policies and champions are transforming agriculture
By Fidaa Haddad, team leader of the regional priority on greening agriculture, water scarcity and climate action and senior programme officer with the FAO Regional Office for Near East and North Africa.
The Near East and North Africa (NENA) region stands at a defining moment in its transition towards greener and more resilient agrifood systems. Environmental pressures such as accelerating land degradation, biodiversity loss and chronic water scarcity are intensifying under the weight of climate change. Agriculture remains the region’s largest consumer of land and water resources, making its transformation central not only to food security but also to economic stability and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Throughout the NENA region, greening agriculture is shaping the future of food, water and livelihoods.
Encouragingly, countries across the region are translating sustainability commitments into tangible policy reforms and innovative investment models. These efforts demonstrate that integrated governance, science-based decision-making and community engagement can drive meaningful transformation.
In Tunisia, the Strategy for the Planning and Conservation of Agricultural Lands (ACTA) 2050 offers a long-term road map for sustainable land management and soil conservation. Led by the General Directorate for the Planning and Conservation of Agricultural Lands and supported by FAO and a wide range of technical partners, ACTA places sustainable land management at the heart of integrated rural development. Moving beyond traditional infrastructure-driven approaches, it promotes community-driven territorial planning through integrated territorial development and management projects. Designed and implemented with local populations, these projects address land restoration, agricultural development and rural livelihoods simultaneously. ACTA prioritizes ecosystem-based watershed management, rehabilitates degraded infrastructure and protects vulnerable communities, strengthening resilience and improving land productivity. Its demand-driven programming approach allows local stakeholders to shape investment priorities according to their territorial needs and socioecological contexts, exemplifying how policy coherence and multisectoral collaboration can deliver sustainable, equitable outcomes.
Another example of leadership can be found in Lebanon, where forests cover 13.2 percent of the land. Despite facing intense pressures from conflict, fires, unsustainable practices, demographic expansion and urbanization, the country is advancing approaches that showcase how sustainable land management can protect both people and ecosystems. The Forest and Landscape Restoration Mechanism, established by FAO, supports Lebanon in scaling restoration initiatives and engaging communities in sustainable forest management. Sustainable grazing management sits at the heart of these efforts, enabling cooperatives and local communities to restore and manage forested lands effectively. Beyond ecological gains, Lebanon has focused on strengthening value chains for non-wood forest products such as aromatic and medicinal plants, honey and pine nuts, creating economic incentives for communities to embrace conservation. Training programmes and capacity building further empower local populations to balance their livelihoods with environmental stewardship.
Similarly, in Jordan, the Royal Botanic Garden, recognized as a 2025 World Restoration Flagship, works with traditional herders to revive sustainable rangeland practices, restoring 180 hectares to showcase the country’s unique plants and ecosystems. Biomass production has grown more than eightfold, increasing grazing days sevenfold, reducing feed costs and more than doubling herder incomes, with ten times as many herding families now taking part. The Royal Botanic Garden model demonstrates how biodiversity restoration can strengthen food production and community trust, blending scientific methods with traditional knowledge on range management, livestock health and medicinal plant use.
Beyond champion countries, regional momentum is growing. Governments are expanding ecosystem restoration programmes, scaling climate-smart agriculture and integrating biodiversity and land restoration into national development agendas. Regulatory and fiscal reforms are beginning to incentivize resource efficiency and circular agrifood production models. The NENA Regional Investment Framework for Integrated Ecosystem Restoration and Development Solutions, launched by FAO and key technical partners, provides a strategic platform for mobilizing domestic, regional and international financing while aligning environmental priorities with economic growth and rural development.
The region’s emerging experience shows that greening agriculture creates real benefits for the environment, the economy and society. NENA countries can transform environmental challenges into engines of sustainable growth and resilience, especially when policy achievements, innovation and investment come together.
With strong national ownership, committed champions and coordinated regional action, the pathway forward is clear. Through integrated policies and scaled investments, the NENA region has the potential to become a global leader in sustainable, climate-resilient agrifood systems, delivering tangible benefits for communities, economies and ecosystems alike.