Algae, Lab‑Grown Meat, and Smarter Farms: Shaping the Future of Food in MENA

MENA is entering a moment of transformation, where food is increasingly connected to ideas of health, sustainability, and more mindful consumption. Across the region, new opportunities are opening up: Gulf states are channeling major investments into cultivated meat to meet protein demand ethically, North Africa is expanding aquaculture to deliver sustainable plant‑based protein and strengthen food security, and climate‑smart agriculture is already woven into national strategies. Together, these shifts point toward a future where innovation and responsibility redefine how the region grows and consumes food, creating systems that are efficient, climate‑conscious, and aligned with a vision of healthier diets.

Alternative Proteins: The Next Big Leap

Cultivated meat is attracting major investment in the Gulf, with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund backing Eat Just and plans underway for a production facility in Doha (Nature article on cultivated meat). Meanwhile, algae proteins are gaining momentum in North Africa. Morocco’s “Blue Economy” strategy highlights seaweed farming as a growth sector, aiming for 300,000 tons of aquaculture production in the next decade (Frontiers in Nutrition review on algae). Tunisia is also exploring seaweed cultivation along its Mediterranean coast, positioning algae as both a sustainable food source and an export opportunity.

Climate‑Smart Agriculture: Farming for Tomorrow

Climate‑smart agriculture (CSA) is already mainstream in MENA policy. Defined by the FAO as farming that boosts productivity, adapts to climate change, and reduces emissions (FAO CSA Technical Reports), CSA is being advanced through regional frameworks that emphasize water efficiency, sustainable irrigation, and digital tools to support farmers (Agronomy article on CSA in MENA). The World Bank’s MENA Climate Roadmap also places CSA at the heart of building low‑carbon, resilient societies (World Bank MENA Climate Roadmap).

The Takeaway

The Middle East is not waiting on the sidelines. Climate‑smart agriculture is already transforming farms, while alternative proteins are poised to transform diets. Gulf states, Morocco, Tunisia, and other countries are each contributing to this shift in their own way. Together, they represent a powerful dual strategy: adapting to climate change while embracing innovation in food production, building food systems that are healthier, more sustainable, and more conscious of their impact on people, the animals, and the planet.