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In a region where farming is a battle against drought, heat, and scarcity, innovation has become the only path to survival. From gene editing to biologicals and AI-driven agriculture, technology is redefining how the Middle East and North Africa grow food—and how the milling industry secures its future.

In a volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous, and digital (VUCAD) world, the traders who can speak both the language of commodities and the language of data , who understand the mechanics of financing as well as the geopolitics of governments — from fragile contexts like Syria’s re-entry into SWIFT, to sudden laws and export bans, to tariff and trade war shocks from the U.S., to forward-looking hubs like the UAE — will not just adapt to the future, they will shape it.

Sub-Saharan Africa’s wheat sector is expanding rapidly, driven by demographics, urbanization, and changing consumption patterns. Imports are increasing steadily, supply routes are shifting, and the milling sector is consolidating around a handful of strong, well-capitalized players.

In a world grappling with climate change, supply chain disruptions, and mounting food insecurity, ancient grains—once sidelined by modern agriculture—are re-emerging as powerful tools for building sustainable, self-reliant food systems.

With freight, FX and policy still in flux, importer Nouran Ezzeldin sets out a practical playbook for keeping grain moving into Egypt and North Africa.

Switzerland is a global hub for grain trading. As new sustainability and decarbonisation rules bite, what will it take to keep trade moving—and food secure—without crushing competitiveness?

Global flour exports remain steady in volume but volatile in value, reflecting both resilience and fragility. For low-income countries, flour is a cornerstone of food security, while in high-income markets it is increasingly tied to innovation and value-added products.

In the dynamic landscape of grain milling and flour processing, time, precision, and quality control have become the defining factors for competitiveness. Ensuring consistent raw material quality has never been more critical. Enter the Brabender GlutoPeak—an innovative, rapid rheological testing device that transforms the way flour and gluten quality are analyzed across the value chain.

Long seen as a traditional pillar of food production, the global milling sector is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation—driven by renewed investment in people, skills, and smart technologies.

In recent years, grain and oilseed producers have faced increasing uncertainty not just in commodity pricing, but in production volumes. From unexpected frosts in Russia to prolonged droughts in Argentina, climate variability is exerting new pressures on agricultural systems — and exposing the limitations of conventional forecasting tools.

As global trade fragments and climate pressures escalate, it is time to embrace innovation, reinforce science-based trade rules, and build new coalitions to secure the future of food. Resilience, productivity, and open trade must form the foundation of tomorrow’s agri-food systems.

In the era of full-scale war, cargo insurance has shifted from a routine formality to a critical component of risk management.