1. A
Summary
The topic of this master thesis is: The impact of producing
biofuels from food crops on Arab food security problem (An
econometric study).
This master thesis is divided into three parts. The first and the
second part are divided into three chapters, while the last part is
divided into four chapters.
The first part is an overview about biofuels as a source of
energy. Since, the first chapter is an overview about biofuels. It
illustrates different definitions of biofuels and the relationship
between biofuels and agriculture. The chapters and the thesis
concentrate on two main types of biofuels, bioethanol and
biodiesel and their different feedstocks that are used in the
production process.
In the second chapter, we explain the economics of producing
biofuels including costs of production and the factors that affect
these costs. In addition, we illustrate the global trade of bioethanol
and biodiesel and the global consumption too. Another addition is
the trade barriers which are affecting the expansion of this
industry.
In chapter three, we concentrated on conducting a comparison
between biofuels and fossil fuels. However, it ended by deducing
that each type of energy has its own advantages and
disadvantages. But, in conclusion, biofuels still a source of energy
that can’t replace the dependence on fossil fuels.
Part two is considered a move to the global trends and impacts
of the expansion of this industry. In chapter one, we mentioned
two main experiences in the field of biofuels. The first example

2. B
was the USA as the main producer of bioethanol from maize, and
the second example was the EU as the world’s main producer of
biodiesel. Different sides have been illustrated in these two
examples such as the production of biofuels in each experience,
the imports and exports in addition to biofuels trade policy in each
country.
Moving to chapter two, where we can find the different
impacts of biofuels worldwide. So many impacts have been
mentioned such as the impact on food prices and international
food aids, the environmental impacts such as deforestation, in
addition to the impact on food and water competition. Some
benefits of biofuels were mentioned in the economic effects of
biofuels’ production.
The future of biofuels’ industry was discussed in chapter three
of this part. And the projections were focusing on different
generations of biofuels and the prospects of them in the future.
Part three, however, is considered the most important part,
since it concentrates on Arab countries and their relation to
biofuels. Chapter one, was about providing an overview of the
characteristics of the agricultural sector in Arab countries. This
chapter showed that the sector is suffering from many problems
including water problems, and problems related to workers in this
sector, in addition to investments shortages.
However, chapter two mainly focuses on the food security
problem in the region. It proved the problem by using some
indicators such as the food SSR and the trade deficit indicator.
This problem, however, was a result of the different problems that
Arab countries suffer from in their agricultural sector.

3. C
Some Arab countries have experiences in producing biofuels,
this can be noticed in chapter three, a note on the industry in some
countries is mentioned, and some of them are Egypt, Iraq, Syria
and Jordan.
The research was ended by chapter four in this part. The
chapter intended to measure the impact of producing biofuels on
Arab food security problem. The impact was divided between the
impact of the local production of biofuels and the impact of the
international production of biofuels. The local impact wasn’t
significant since Arab countries don’t use food stuffs to produce
biofuels. But the most important impact was the international
impact, which was measured through two main models. Model
one was measuring the impact of the international production of
ethanol on the imports’ global prices of food cereals.
Then in model two it measured the impact of the increase in
the international prices of cereals’ imports on Arab food per capita
of cereals. Finally, a scenario was made to predict the impact of
the continuous production of ethanol on Arab food per capita in
2017.
In conclusion, the study reached many results; the most
important one was that biofuels’ international production may
result in decreasing Arab food per capita of cereals by 300 gram
each year. And with the continuous production worldwide the
impact may become worse. Therefore, the researcher suggested
improving and developing the global use of second generation
biofuels since, they don’t rely on food as feedstocks. In addition,
the production of biofuels must be constrained by international
laws that regulate their production, and help in decreasing their
negative impacts on global food prices.

4. D
Abstract
Researcher Name: Sarah Hassan Mohammed Hassan Serag
Thesis title: “The impact of producing biofuels from food crops on
Arab food security problem” “An econometric study”.
A master thesis – Ain Shams University – Faculty of Commerce,
Economics Department, 2011
The study aims at measuring the impact of producing biofuels
worldwide on Arab food security problem. In part one; the
researcher gave an overview about biofuels and their economics of
production, in addition to conducting a comparison between
biofuels and fossil fuels. Part two, was concentrating on the global
production of biofuels’ industry mentioning the USA and the EU
as major producers, and the different impacts of biofuels’
production and the future of this new industry. Ending with part
three, this was concentrating on Arab countries and their problems
in the agriculture sector that were the main reasons behind the
food security problem. Also some Arab experiences in producing
biofuels were mentioned preparing to measure the impact of the
global and the local production of biofuels on Arab food security
problem.
The researcher used the theoretical and the analytical
methodologies, in addition to the econometric methodology in
measuring the mentioned impact.