“Jordan’s wheat security is, in truth, a quiet success. The shelves are safe, the reserves are deep, and the country has avoided the panic that often accompanies global food crises,” El Zubi said.

He noted that Jordan imports around 97 per cent of its wheat requirements but maintains reserves that cover between five and eight months of consumption, providing flexibility during periods of global market volatility.

El Zubi argued that the main challenge lies in the financial cost of maintaining food security rather than in the availability of supplies.

“The danger is not empty shelves, but a strained Treasury and rising foreign currency costs,” he said, referring to the cost of maintaining strategic reserves and bread subsidies during periods of elevated global commodity prices.

He also highlighted the economic impact of food waste, citing estimates that around 34 per cent of Jordan’s wheat supply is lost or wasted along the value chain at an annual cost of about $105 million.

“Every percentage point of wheat waste reduced simultaneously eases the import bill, lowers subsidy expenditures and relieves foreign exchange pressures,” El Zubi said.

He called for measures that would strengthen the long-term sustainability of Jordan’s food security system, including reducing food waste, expanding private sector participation in grain storage, diversifying suppliers and reforming subsidy mechanisms.

As Jordan works towards expanding its strategic reserves in the coming years, policymakers face the challenge of balancing strong food security buffers with the financial cost of sustaining them.