Egypt – the most populous country in the Arab World – is also by far the largest importer of wheat globally. For centuries, wheat has been a central component of the typical diet of the country’s inhabitants. Per capita consumption of this cereal is amongst the highest in the world. The domestic wheat industry provides an important contribution to employment and value added in the agrifood sector. At the same time, assuring access to this important staple food by all Egyptian citizens, a quarter of whom live under the poverty line, has also been a central aspect of the country’s social policies. The strategic importance of the wheat sector has resulted in a strong involvement of the State at all levels of the wheat value chain.