Kuwait food security within the context of climate change: animal production

1 Introduction

Food security remains one of the most critical global challenges of the twenty-first century as growing populations, climate change, environmental degradation, geopolitical conflicts, and resource limitations increasingly threaten the stability of food systems worldwide. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines food security as a condition in which all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary requirements and food preferences for an active and healthy life (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024a). Food security encompasses four interconnected dimensions: food availability, food access, food utilization, and food stability, all of which must be maintained to ensure sustainable food systems and human well-being (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024a).

Climate change has emerged as one of the most significant threats to global food security, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where agricultural production is constrained by limited natural resources. Rising temperatures, increasing frequency of extreme heat events, changing precipitation patterns, and water scarcity are expected to intensify pressures on food production systems. These challenges are particularly critical in Kuwait, where agricultural development is restricted by hyper-arid climatic conditions, limited freshwater availability, and severe land constraints. Recent assessments of Kuwait’s food system indicate that climate change may adversely affect agricultural productivity, food availability, and economic resilience, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies to strengthen national food security. Furthermore, Kuwait’s agricultural and livestock sectors remain highly dependent on imported production inputs, particularly feed resources, which increases vulnerability to international market fluctuations and supply-chain disruptions. The livestock sector faces additional constraints due to limited domestic feed availability, with imported feeds accounting for the majority of livestock feed requirements. These environmental and resource limitations represent major challenges for achieving sustainable animal production under future climate scenarios (Gelan and Atkinson, 2022; Almutawa and Alfraih, 2023).

Animal production constitutes a fundamental component of global food systems by providing high-quality protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients necessary for human health. Livestock production also contributes significantly to rural livelihoods, employment generation, economic development, and agricultural sustainability. Poultry, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and camels play important roles in ensuring food and nutritional security, particularly in developing and resource-constrained regions. However, livestock production is highly sensitive to climatic conditions because animal performance, reproduction, health, welfare, and productivity are directly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, water availability, and feed resources. In Kuwait, animal production plays an important role in improving national food security despite its relatively small contribution to total agricultural output. The sector includes poultry, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and camels; however, production is constrained by extreme heat, water scarcity, limited feed resources, and dependence on imported feed, making livestock systems particularly vulnerable to climate change (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014).

Heat stress is considered one of the most important climate-related challenges affecting livestock production globally. Elevated ambient temperatures can reduce feed intake, impair nutrient utilization, suppress immune function, decrease reproductive efficiency, and increase mortality rates, ultimately leading to substantial economic losses. In Kuwait, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 45-50 °C, livestock are exposed to prolonged periods of severe heat stress, which negatively affects animal welfare, productivity, reproductive performance, and feed efficiency, particularly in poultry and dairy production systems (Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). Furthermore, climate change may indirectly affect animal production through reductions in feed availability, deterioration of feed quality, increased disease prevalence, and heightened competition for limited water resources (Milne et al., 2025). Consequently, improving the resilience of livestock production systems has become a major priority for achieving long-term food security and sustainable agricultural development.

The challenges associated with climate change are particularly relevant in Kuwait, a country characterized by a hyper-arid environment, extremely high summer temperatures, low annual rainfall, limited freshwater resources, and scarce arable land. Summer temperatures frequently exceed 50 °C, creating severe environmental conditions for agricultural and livestock production (Milne et al., 2025). These constraints limit domestic food production and contribute to a high dependence on imported food commodities, feed ingredients, and agricultural inputs. According to recent reports, Kuwait remains highly dependent on imported food commodities, particularly cereals, feed ingredients, meat, and other agricultural products. Such dependence increases vulnerability to international market fluctuations, geopolitical crises, and climate-induced disruptions in global food supply chains, highlighting the importance of strengthening domestic agricultural resilience and food security policies (O'Neill et al., 2022; Milne et al., 2025).

Kuwait represents one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable food systems because of its hyper-arid climate, limited freshwater resources, negligible arable land, and heavy reliance on imported food and feed. Summer air temperatures frequently exceed 50 °C, placing considerable thermal stress on livestock and increasing the demand for cooling, water, and energy within intensive production systems. At the same time, rapid population growth, urbanization, and increasing demand for animal-source foods continue to place additional pressure on domestic food production. Consequently, strengthening the resilience of the livestock sector has become an important national priority for improving food security and reducing vulnerability to external supply-chain disruptions. Recent assessments indicate that climate change is already reducing livestock productivity through increased heat stress, declining feed quality, water scarcity, and greater disease risks, with these impacts projected to intensify under future warming scenarios (Almutawa and Alfraih, 2023).

Although Kuwait has invested substantially in modern poultry production, climate-controlled housing, dairy farming, and veterinary infrastructure, domestic production remains insufficient to satisfy demand for several livestock products, particularly poultry meat and red meat, resulting in continued dependence on imported food and feed. This dependence exposes the country to global market volatility, geopolitical instability, and climate-related disruptions affecting international food supply chains. Therefore, improving the sustainability and resilience of domestic animal production has become a strategic component of Kuwait’s long-term food security agenda (O'Neill et al., 2022; Milne et al., 2025).

Despite increasing scientific interest in climate change, livestock production, and food security, research on Kuwait has generally addressed these challenges from separate perspectives, including agricultural constraints, food security, water scarcity, and livestock production under arid conditions. Kuwait’s agricultural and livestock sectors face substantial constraints arising from extreme heat, limited natural water resources, poor soil conditions, and dependence on imported feed and food resources (Burezq and Khalil, 2022; Asem, 2024). These conditions increase the vulnerability of domestic livestock production and highlight the need for integrated approaches combining climate adaptation, technological innovation, resource efficiency, and food-security strategies (Rojas-Downing et al., 2017; Aleisa and Alsaleh, 2024). However, comprehensive reviews integrating climate change impacts, livestock production systems, food security, precision livestock farming (PLF), artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring, climate-smart livestock management, and sustainable feed alternatives within Kuwait’s hyper-arid environment remain limited. These knowledge gaps constrain the development of evidence-based strategies to enhance livestock resilience under increasingly severe climatic conditions.

Therefore, this review critically evaluates the current status of animal production in Kuwait within the context of climate change and national food security. Unlike previous reviews, it integrates current knowledge on livestock and poultry production, climate-related constraints, emerging technologies, climate-smart adaptation strategies, and policy implications into a single framework tailored to Kuwait’s environmental conditions. In addition, this review identifies existing research gaps, highlights future research priorities, and provides evidence-based recommendations to support the development of resilient and sustainable animal production systems capable of enhancing long-term food security in Kuwait and other hyper-arid regions.

2 Literature search methodology

This review was conducted as a structured narrative literature review to evaluate the current status of animal production in Kuwait within the context of climate change and food security. A structured literature search was undertaken to identify relevant peer-reviewed studies, reports, and authoritative datasets addressing livestock and poultry production, climate-related constraints, food security, resource availability, and emerging adaptation strategies relevant to Kuwait and comparable arid regions.

The literature search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar. In addition, authoritative reports and statistical information were obtained from the FAO of the United Nations, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Bank, and relevant Kuwaiti government agencies. These sources were used particularly to obtain recent information on food security, livestock and poultry production, climate change, agricultural development, and national production trends.

The search primarily covered literature published between 2000 and 2026, while earlier landmark publications were considered when necessary to provide historical or conceptual context. The inclusion of literature available in 2026 was intended to capture the most recent evidence, production statistics, climate-related information, technological developments, and adaptation strategies available at the time of the final search. For online databases and datasets, the most recently available information was considered according to the date of the final search. The manuscript currently includes sources updated or accessed in 2026, including recent livestock, poultry, and food-production data.

The search strategy used combinations of keywords related to the objectives of the review, including “food security,” “climate change,” “animal production,” “livestock,” “poultry production,” “broiler production,” “egg production,” “dairy cattle,” “camel production,” “sheep,” “goat,” “heat stress,” “water scarcity,” “feed security,” “PLF,” “climate-smart agriculture,” “sustainability,” “Gulf Cooperation Council,” and “Kuwait.” Boolean operators (AND and OR) were used to combine and refine search terms.

2.1 Eligibility and study selection

Publications were considered eligible when they addressed one or more aspects directly relevant to the objectives of this review, including animal and poultry production, climate change impacts, heat stress, water and feed constraints, food security, livestock management, technological adaptation, sustainability, or policy considerations, with particular emphasis on Kuwait and the wider Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Studies conducted in other arid and semi-arid regions were also considered when they provided evidence relevant to production systems or climate-adaptation strategies applicable to Kuwait.

Priority was given to primary research conducted in Kuwait or the GCC region, where available, because of the distinctive climatic, environmental, and production conditions of the Arabian Peninsula. International studies were included when Kuwait-specific evidence was limited or when they provided important supporting evidence on biological responses, production technologies, climate adaptation, feed resources, or sustainable livestock management.

Studies were excluded when they were outside the scope of the review, lacked sufficient relevance to animal production, climate change, or food security, or did not provide adequate information for interpretation. Duplicate records were removed before screening. Conference abstracts without sufficient full-text information and publications that were primarily opinion-based or lacked an adequate scientific or technical basis were also excluded.

3 Climate change and animal production in Kuwait

Kuwait is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change because of its hyper-arid climate, extremely limited freshwater resources, negligible arable land (less than 1% of the total land area), and heavy dependence on imported food and agricultural inputs (Al-Nasser, 2006; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2025a). Average annual rainfall is generally below 120 mm, while summer air temperatures frequently exceed 50 °C, creating one of the harshest environments for livestock production in the world. Unlike many agricultural systems where a single environmental factor dominates production, livestock production in Kuwait is simultaneously constrained by chronic heat stress, severe water scarcity, limited feed resources, and dependence on imported production inputs. These interacting constraints increase production costs, reduce productivity, and limit the resilience of domestic livestock systems (Al-Bahouh et al., 2020).

Climate projections indicate that the Arabian Gulf region will experience further increases in average temperature, more frequent and prolonged heat waves, and greater evaporative water losses during the coming decades (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022). These changes are particularly important for Kuwait because intensive poultry and dairy production already operate close to their environmental limits. Consequently, climate change is expected to affect not only animal productivity but also the economic sustainability of livestock farming through increased expenditure on cooling systems, desalinated water, imported feed, and disease prevention.

3.1 Heat stress and animal production

Heat stress is a major environmental constraint affecting livestock production in Kuwait, where summer temperatures can exceed 45-50 °C. Animal responses to heat are determined by the combined thermal environment rather than air temperature alone; relative humidity, air movement/ventilation, solar radiation, and access to water also influence heat dissipation. Kuwait-based poultry research has documented physiological responses to chronic heat exposure, including altered expression of heat-shock-related genes in chickens (Bastaki et al., 2023). These findings provide local biological evidence that prolonged heat exposure affects poultry at the cellular level.

The magnitude of heat stress varies among livestock species and housing systems. In poultry, the effectiveness of environmental control is particularly important because birds rely heavily on panting and convective/evaporative heat loss. A recent primary study conducted at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) compared conventional and multi-stage direct evaporative cooling systems under Kuwait conditions. The multi-stage system reduced energy-use intensity by 24% and water-use intensity by 48%; broiler body weight increased by 18.5% in battery-reared birds and 38.6% in floor-reared birds, while feed efficiency improved by 15-51%. In laying hens, feed efficiency improved by 18-23%, egg weight by 5%, and egg mass by 10% (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). These quantitative findings provide direct Kuwait-specific evidence of the production benefits of improved environmental control.

Evidence for dairy systems in Kuwait also indicates that thermal conditions and water requirements are important management constraints. A Kuwait dairy-farm water-footprint study characterized seasonal temperature, relative humidity, temperature-humidity index, and water use under confined dairy production systems (Al-Bahouh et al., 2020). However, quantitative estimates of climate-attributable reductions in milk yield and reproductive performance remain limited in the Kuwait literature. Therefore, estimates derived from other regions should be presented as comparative evidence rather than as direct measurements of Ku-wait-specific losses. Sheep, goats, and camels may have greater tolerance to arid conditions, but Kuwait-specific quantitative studies of their responses to future climate change remain limited.

The economic implications of environmental control are also important. The Kuwait cooling-system study demonstrated simultaneous reductions in energy and water-use intensity while improving poultry performance (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). This suggests that the assessment of adaptation technologies in Kuwait should consider productivity, water consumption, and energy consumption together rather than treating temperature control as a single-factor intervention.

3.2 Water scarcity and livestock production

Water scarcity is a major limitation affecting animal production in Kuwait. Because Kuwait has extremely limited natural freshwater resources, livestock systems depend on managed water supplies and re-quire water for animal drinking, cooling, sanitation, and feed-related activities. Kuwait-specific evidence is available from a study of confined dairy farms that quantified blue and grey water footprints and examined seasonal temperature, relative humidity, temperature-humidity index, and dietary water requirements (Al-Bahouh et al., 2020). This study provides a stronger regional basis for discussing livestock water demand than global water-footprint reviews alone.

Livestock water requirements therefore extend beyond drinking water. In intensive poultry and dairy systems, water is also required for evaporative cooling and sanitation. Because heat load and water demand interact, environmental management should evaluate temperature, humidity, ventilation, and water use jointly. Where Kuwait-specific quantitative estimates are unavailable, the manuscript should identify the gap rather than substitute values from unrelated production systems.

The interaction between heat stress and water scarcity is particularly important in Kuwait. The Ku-wait dairy-farm water-footprint study demonstrated seasonal variation in environmental conditions and water requirements, highlighting the need to quantify water use at the farm level (Al-Bahouh et al., 2020). In poultry, the 2026 Kuwait cooling-system study provides additional quantitative evidence that improved cooling can reduce water-use intensity by 48% while improving production performance (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). These findings support water-use efficiency, recycling, and optimized cooling as evidence-based adaptation priorities.

3.3 Feed security challenges

Feed security is a major structural vulnerability of Kuwait’s livestock industry because local production of conventional feed crops is constrained by the country’s arid climate and limited agricultural land. The poultry literature for Kuwait documents substantial dependence on imported feed ingredients and highlights the exposure of producers to international supply and price fluctuations (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Nasser, 2006; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). Where a precise percentage of imported feed is reported, the underlying statistical source and year should be stated explicitly; otherwise, the manuscript should use the more defensible wording “the majority of feed ingredients are imported.”

Feed cost is also an important determinant of poultry-production economics. Rather than applying a single global estimate to Kuwait, the manuscript should distinguish between Kuwait-specific cost data and international estimates. Where Kuwait-specific production-cost data are unavailable, this should be identified as a research gap. The dependence on imported maize, soybean meal, premixes, and other inputs nevertheless represents a clear supply-chain vulnerability documented in Kuwait-focused poultry studies (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Nasser, 2006).

Reducing this dependency requires diversification of feed resources through greater utilization of agricultural by-products, date palm residues, algae, insect protein, fermented feed ingredients, and precision nutrition technologies. Although several alternative feed ingredients have shown promising nutritional potential, their commercial adoption in Kuwait remains limited, highlighting an important research and development priority.

3.4 Disease emergence and biosecurity risks

Climate change may influence livestock disease risks through changes in environmental conditions, pathogen biology and survival, vector ecology, and host–pathogen interactions. These mechanisms are supported by international literature; however, empirical evidence quantifying the effects of climate change on livestock infectious diseases remains limited and heterogeneous (Gale et al., 2009). The present review therefore found limited Kuwait-specific quantitative evidence directly linking climate variables to disease incidence, mortality, treatment costs, or production losses. Accordingly, international studies are used primarily to explain plausible mechanisms, whereas statements concerning disease burden in Kuwait should be supported by national surveillance and outbreak data where available.

Kuwait’s poultry sector is exposed to transboundary disease risks in part because production depends on internationally sourced inputs, including major feed ingredients and day-old chicks (Al-Nasser, 2006). Kuwait has also experienced significant poultry disease events, including the 2007 H5N1 outbreak, which affected poultry farms across the country and resulted in the culling of approximately 500,000 birds (Al-Azemi et al., 2008). However, these outbreak data do not establish a causal relationship with climate change. The economic magnitude of climate-attributable disease losses in Kuwait therefore remains insufficiently quantified, and numerical estimates from other countries should not be directly transferred to Kuwait.

Evidence-based adaptation should combine established measures such as biosecurity, vaccination where appropriate, veterinary surveillance, and diagnostic capacity with environmental monitoring. Kuwait-specific surveillance initiatives have already emphasized risk-based surveillance and early detection of animal diseases. AI-based forecasting and sensor technologies may provide additional opportunities for early detection and environmental management, but their performance, feasibility, and economic value under Kuwait-specific production conditions require validation before they are presented as established solutions (Al-Hemoud et al., 2021).

3.5 Climate adaptation strategies

The multiple challenges affecting Kuwait’s livestock sector cannot be addressed independently because heat stress, water scarcity, feed insecurity, and disease risks interact to reduce productivity and increase production costs. Consequently, adaptation requires integrated rather than isolated management strategies (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022).

Technological adaptation should be evaluated using Kuwait-specific performance and resource-use evidence wherever available. The 2026 Kuwait cooling-system study provides direct evidence that improved environmental control can reduce energy and water-use intensity while improving broiler and layer performance (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). PFL, IoT-based environmental monitoring, auto-mated ventilation, precision feeding, and sensor-based health monitoring may complement these approaches, but evidence of their commercial adoption and economic performance in Kuwait remains limited. Accordingly, these technologies should be presented as potential adaptation options and research priorities rather than established outcomes in Kuwait.

At the policy level, strengthening domestic feed production where feasible, diversifying import sources, supporting climate-smart infrastructure, and increasing investment in livestock research will be essential for reducing vulnerability to future climate shocks.

Overall, climate change represents a complex systems challenge for Kuwait’s livestock sector. Heat stress remains the dominant biological constraint, but its effects are intensified by water scarcity, heavy dependence on imported feed, and increasing operational costs. Addressing these interconnected challenges through integrated technological, nutritional, and policy interventions will be essential to improve the resilience of animal production and strengthen Kuwait’s long-term food security (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2022).

Table 1 summarizes the principal environmental stressors influencing animal production in Kuwait, together with their consequences and representative primary studies from Kuwait and the GCC region.

Table 1. Major environmental factors affecting animal production in Kuwait, their consequences, and representative primary studies from Kuwait and the GCC region.

4 Current status of animal production in Kuwait

Animal production is an important component of Kuwait’s agricultural sector and contributes to domestic supplies of meat, milk, eggs, and other animal-derived foods. The sector operates under severe environmental constraints, including extreme summer temperatures, low rainfall, limited arable land, and scarce freshwater resources. Kuwait-focused poultry studies document the structure and technological characteristics of the sector, while official food-balance and production statistics provide evidence on domestic supply and import dependence (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Nasser, 2006).

Despite these challenges, Kuwait has modernized its livestock sector through investments in climate-controlled housing, precision feeding, improved genetics, veterinary health services, and biosecurity programs. These technological improvements have enhanced animal productivity, particularly in intensive poultry and dairy production systems. Nevertheless, domestic production remains insufficient to satisfy the increasing demand for several animal products, particularly poultry meat and red meat, resulting in continued dependence on imports (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Nasser et al., 2015).

Poultry production is one of the most developed components of Kuwait’s livestock sector. The KISR survey found that broiler farms represented 59.52% of specialized poultry farms and layer farms 30.95% (Al-Nasser et al., 2020a). The sector uses environmentally controlled housing and other technologies to maintain production under Kuwait’s hot-arid conditions. A recent Kuwait primary study further demonstrated measurable production and resource-use benefits from improved evaporative cooling (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026).

Table-egg production has exceeded domestic requirements in some years according to Kuwait production and trade data; however, this should not be interpreted as permanent self-sufficiency. The manuscript therefore reports self-sufficiency by year and defines the calculation from the underlying production and food-supply data. Poultry-meat production remains dependent on imports to satisfy domestic demand, as documented in Kuwait-focused production reports and current food-balance statistics.

Dairy production in Kuwait relies on intensive management and environmental control. Kuwait-specific water-footprint research has quantified seasonal environmental conditions and water use in confined dairy systems (Al-Bahouh et al., 2020). Quantitative Kuwait-specific estimates of climate-attributable milk-yield losses and treatment costs remain comparatively limited and should be identified as research gaps rather than inferred from unrelated regions.

Small ruminants, including sheep and goats, are important components of Kuwait’s livestock sector. Their contribution to food security should be described using available national livestock and production statistics. Claims concerning heat tolerance, reproductive performance, or future climate resilience should be supported by species-specific primary studies; where Kuwait-specific evidence is unavailable, the manuscript should identify the limitation explicitly.

Camel production is relevant to Kuwait because camels are adapted to arid environments and contribute to milk and meat production. However, statements about their future importance under climate change should be presented as a research hypothesis or evidence-based possibility rather than as a conclusion, unless supported by Kuwait-specific production or climate-response studies.

A major structural limitation across Kuwait’s livestock sectors is dependence on imported feed ingredients. Kuwait-focused poultry studies document the importance of imported feed and other production in-puts (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Nasser, 2006; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). The economic effect of this dependence should be quantified using Kuwait-specific price and production-cost data were available; other-wise, it should be presented as a documented supply-chain vulnerability rather than assigned a generalized cost estimate.

Overall, Kuwait’s livestock sector has undergone substantial technological development, particularly in poultry production. Nevertheless, import dependence, environmental constraints, and limited local feed and water resources remain important food-security vulnerabilities. The evidence supports further evaluation of climate-controlled production, feed diversification, water-use efficiency, and precision technologies under Kuwait-specific conditions.

5 Meat demand in Kuwait

Meat industry in Kuwait is the major source of protein in the country. The major livestock species raised in Kuwait are sheep and bovine cattle with some camel population exist in the country. In addition, chicken is considered as the main poultry raised and consumed in Kuwait. It is important to mention that meat constitute a major dish in Kuwaiti meal. Per capita consumption of meat in Kuwait increased from 41.8 (Kg/capita/yr) in 1992 to reach 87 (Kg/capita per yr) in 2011 (Figure 1) which indicates the high demand of meat by consumers in Kuwait (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024b). Meat consumption in Kuwait include red meat consumption which include mainly sheep and bovine meat and poultry meat that include chicken meat as the main poultry consumed in Kuwait. Kuwait’s meat production has increased over the past decades, although the growth has remained considerably lower than global meat production. The trends in Kuwait and global meat production from 1992 to 2026 are presented in Figure 2.

The agriculture sector is dramatically influenced by global crises, such as the coronavirus pandemic and other worldwide catastrophes, which can negatively affect food supply and food security (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Al-Khalaifah et al., 2020a; Nolte et al., 2022). The agricultural sector, including crop, livestock, and fisheries production, plays a major role in global food security through its contribution to the production and availability of nutritious and safe foods, including meat, eggs, milk, and vegetables. In Kuwait, the agricultural sector faces several challenges, including adverse climatic conditions, water scarcity, limited arable land, dependence on imported agricultural inputs and animal feed, high production costs, farm management and disease-related issues, consumer preferences, and market competition. These challenges, together with Kuwait’s high dependence on food imports, highlight the need to improve agricultural technologies, resource-use efficiency, and sustainable production practices to strengthen domestic food production and food security. Sustainable development of the agricultural sector in Kuwait requires the adoption of appropriate technologies and improved management practices to overcome environmental and economic constraints and enhance the sustainability of local agricultural production (Asem, 2024).

Three different species of native sheep exist in Kuwait and some native species of camel. However, no native chickens in Kuwait and almost all chickens used for consumption as imported from other countries. In spite of the high demand for meat in Kuwait, the local production cannot cover the demand so the country has to depend on importation to meet the local demand for meet. Sheep and chickens are the major species used for meat consumption and during special celebrations such as during the holly months of Ramadan and Haj. This indicates the importance of these species as food, cultural and social source. The dependency of Kuwait on importation of major animal species and feed ingredient affect food security in the country.

Since the 21st century, poultry production has aligned with sustainable practices and termed as sustainable poultry production. Potentially banana plant fibers in chick feed could serve as an alternative to antibiotics. Adding 10% banana peel to poultry feed improved feed efficiency, conversion, and egg and meat quality. Therefore, these characteristics of banana peel may be advantageous for poultry and livestock’s health and welfare Parts of the banana plant, including the leaves, juvenile plants, discarded fruit, and stems, can serve as fodder for ruminants, especially cattle, sheep, goats, poultry and buffalo (Saeed et al., 2025).

6 Livestock production and food security in Kuwait

Livestock production is an important component of Kuwait’s food security because it contributes to the domestic supply of animal-source foods, particularly poultry meat and eggs. Kuwait’s poultry sector has expanded in response to increasing domestic demand; however, domestic poultry meat production has historically accounted for only a fraction of total consumption (Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). A subsequent survey of poultry farms in Kuwait documented the structure, production systems, and technologies used in broiler, layer, and breeder farms, providing evidence of the role of domestic poultry production in the national food system (Al-Nasser et al., 2020(a). The vulnerability of food-related activities to external disruptions was also evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when a Kuwait-based survey documented substantial changes in food purchasing and consumption behavior among residents (AlTarrah et al., 2021).

Food security consists of four interconnected dimensions: food availability, food access, food utilization, and food stability (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2003). Livestock production contributes directly to food availability by supplying high-quality animal protein and indirectly supports food access through employment opportunities, income generation, and the development of associated agricultural value chains. However, sustaining livestock production in Kuwait remains challenging because of extreme climatic conditions, limited water and land resources, and high dependence on imported feed ingredients and production inputs.

Among livestock sectors, poultry production has achieved the greatest contribution to domestic animal-source food supply because of its short production cycle, high reproductive efficiency, and favorable feed conversion ratio. The adoption of environmentally controlled housing, tunnel ventilation, evaporative cooling systems, improved genetics, precision nutrition, and enhanced biosecurity has enabled commercial poultry farms to maintain production under Kuwait’s hot-arid conditions. Recent field research conducted in Kuwait demonstrated that improved cooling technologies significantly enhanced broiler and layer performance by reducing the negative effects of summer heat stress and improving production efficiency (Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). Nevertheless, the poultry sector remains dependent on imported feed ingredients, breeding stock, vaccines, and production equipment, which limits complete self-sufficiency and exposes producers to international market fluctuations.

Compared with poultry, domestic production of dairy cattle, sheep, and goats remains more constrained. Dairy production in Kuwait relies on intensive management systems because high-producing cattle breeds are particularly vulnerable to thermal stress. Research conducted under Kuwait’s hot-arid conditions showed that heat exposure negatively affects cattle performance and requires effective environmental management strategies to maintain productivity (Razzaque et al., 2009). The high energy demand associated with cooling systems further increases production costs. Small ruminants are better adapted to arid environments but remain limited by scarce grazing resources, dependence on imported concentrate feeds, and reduced productivity during periods of extreme heat. Camels represent a valuable indigenous livestock resource because of their exceptional adaptation to desert environments and their potential contribution to sustainable milk and meat production under future climate scenarios; however, their contribution to total national animal-source food supply remains relatively limited.

Feed security represents one of the major constraints affecting livestock development and food security in Kuwait. The country’s arid climate severely restricts local production of conventional feed crops, resulting in substantial dependence on imported cereals and protein sources. This dependence increases the vulnerability of livestock producers to international commodity price fluctuations, transportation disruptions, and geopolitical instability. Therefore, improving feed-use efficiency, establishing strategic feed reserves, and developing locally available alternative feed resources are essential strategies for improving the resilience of Kuwait’s livestock sector.

Alternative feed resources, including date palm residues, agricultural by-products, algae, insect-derived proteins, fermented feed ingredients, and other locally available biomass resources, have received increasing attention because of their potential contribution to circular bioeconomy approaches. These resources may reduce dependence on imported feeds while converting agricultural residues into valuable livestock inputs. However, most available studies have been conducted outside Kuwait or under experimental conditions, and limited information exists regarding their nutritional value, economic feasibility, and commercial application under Kuwait’s climatic and production systems. Future research should therefore prioritize locally validated feeding trials and economic assessments before large-scale adoption.

Climate change represents an additional challenge for livestock-based food security in Kuwait. Increasing temperatures, prolonged heat waves, and water scarcity are expected to intensify thermal stress, reduce animal productivity, impair reproductive efficiency, and increase production costs. Evidence from Kuwait-based poultry research has demonstrated that chronic heat exposure induces physiological and molecular stress responses, confirming the biological impact of elevated temperatures on livestock performance (Bastaki et al., 2023). Consequently, climate-smart livestock production systems incorporating PLF, IoT-based environmental monitoring, artificial intelligence, precision nutrition, energy-efficient cooling technologies, and heat-adapted genetic resources will become increasingly important for maintaining productivity while improving resource-use efficiency.

Overall, enhancing livestock-based food security in Kuwait requires a strategy focused on improving production efficiency, strengthening feed security, adopting climate-smart technologies, and increasing resilience throughout the food supply chain. Given Kuwait’s environmental limitations, complete self-sufficiency in livestock products is unlikely to be achievable. Instead, strategic self-reliance in key livestock sectors, supported by efficient resource utilization and innovative production technologies, represents a more realistic pathway for ensuring a stable and sustainable supply of animal-source foods under future climatic and economic challenges.

7 Poultry production in Kuwait

7.1 Overview of the poultry industry in Kuwait

The poultry industry represents the most advanced and economically important component of Kuwait’s livestock sector, providing a substantial proportion of the country’s domestic animal protein through the production of broiler meat and table eggs. Compared with other livestock enterprises, poultry production has experienced rapid technological development owing to its short production cycle, high feed conversion efficiency, relatively low production costs, and capacity for intensive commercial production. These characteristics have enabled the poultry industry to become one of the principal contributors to national food security despite Kuwait’s extremely harsh climatic conditions (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014).

Commercial poultry farming in Kuwait began expanding during the 1970s and has undergone continuous modernization through investments in environmentally controlled housing, automated feeding systems, improved genetics, vaccination programs, and precision management technologies. The sector is dominated by intensive commercial production systems, particularly those operated by Kuwait United Poultry Company (KUPCO) and several private enterprises, which collectively produce broiler chickens and table eggs for the domestic market. Government support, veterinary surveillance programs, and research conducted by the KISR have further contributed to improving production efficiency and disease prevention (Al-Nasser, 2006).

Despite substantial progress, Kuwait remains highly dependent on imported poultry meat because domestic production has not kept pace with increasing consumer demand driven by population growth, urbanization, and changing dietary preferences. In contrast, the table egg industry has demonstrated remarkable growth and has achieved self-sufficiency in several recent years, highlighting the sector’s capacity for sustainable domestic production (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2008b).

The continued development of Kuwait’s poultry industry is influenced by multiple interacting factors, including climate change, feed availability, water scarcity, production costs, disease management, consumer demand, and technological innovation. Consequently, enhancing the resilience and sustainability of poultry production has become an important national priority within Kuwait’s food security strategy.

7.2 Development of poultry production

During the past three decades, poultry production has evolved from relatively small-scale operations into highly specialized commercial enterprises utilizing modern housing systems, automated environmental control, precision feeding technologies, and advanced genetic lines. Improvements in hatchery management, nutrition, vaccination programs, and biosecurity have substantially increased flock productivity while reducing mortality and production losses (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013; Scanes, 2015).

The adoption of tunnel-ventilated poultry houses equipped with evaporative cooling systems has been particularly important in Kuwait, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 50 °C. These environmental control systems reduce heat stress, improve feed conversion efficiency, enhance bird welfare, and increase production performance during periods of extreme heat. Nevertheless, maintaining optimal environmental conditions requires considerable energy consumption and operational costs, creating additional challenges for producers under rising energy prices and climate change scenarios (Lara and Rostagno, 2013).

Furthermore, the poultry industry remains heavily dependent on imported breeding stock, feed ingredients, veterinary pharmaceuticals, and production equipment. This reliance increases vulnerability to global supply-chain disruptions and international market fluctuations, as demonstrated during recent geopolitical and economic crises. Diversification of feed resources and increased utilization of locally available agricultural by-products therefore represent important opportunities for improving the sustainability of Kuwait’s poultry sector.

7.3 Contribution of poultry production to food security

Poultry production contributes directly to all four dimensions of food security: food availability, food access, food utilization, and food stability. Broiler meat and eggs provide affordable, high-quality animal protein containing essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that contribute significantly to human nutrition (Scanes, 2015). Compared with red meat production, poultry production requires less land, lower water inputs, and shorter production cycles, making it one of the most resource-efficient livestock systems (Gerber et al., 2013).

The increasing demand for poultry products reflects both population growth and changing dietary preferences. Consequently, continued improvements in production efficiency, disease control, environmental management, and supply-chain resilience are essential to reduce dependence on imported poultry products while strengthening national food security (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024a).

7.4 Poultry meat production and demand in Kuwait

The poultry industry has major role in food security through the production of poultry meat and eggs, which are considered as source of high quality, easily digestible protein, as well as essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B, calcium and essential amino acids that are important for human health (Al-Khalifa et al., 2009; Al-Khalifa et al., 2012; Al-Khalifa et al., 2013; Marangoni et al., 2015; Al-Khalifa, 2016; Xin et al., 2016; Attia et al., 2017; Al-Khalaifah, 2018; Scanes, 2018; Al-Khalaifah et al., 2019; Al-Khalaifah et al., 2020b). In Kuwait, poultry meat is popular, considered as a major source of protein, and constitutes a major dish in the Kuwaiti’s meal (Al-Nasser, 2006; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). The poultry industry in Kuwait is the major source of chicken meat and eggs in the country. In total, 59.52% of the farms included in the study were broiler farms specialized for poultry meat production (25 farms), 30.95% of the farms (13 farms) were focused on table egg production and 9.52% of the farms (four farms) were specialized breeder units for hatching egg production. The results showed that most of the farms were medium in size for broilers (40%), layers (46.15%) and breeders (75%). Large size farms represented 36% for broilers, 46.15% for layers and 25% for breeders. Small-size farms were broken down into 24% broilers and 7.69% layers (Al-Nasser et al., 2020(a). The remaining percent-age is met through imports, primarily from countries like Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, and Ukraine. Additionally, two medium-sized companies focus mainly on table egg production (Intelligence M, 2023). The rest are small producers, who produce only broilers with one or two houses, each containing 5000 to 10000 broilers. The medium size companies together with the small producers cover about 10 to 20% of the local production (Taha and Henney, 2005; Al-Nasser, 2006; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014).

The majority of poultry production in Kuwait concentrates on chicken meat and table eggs due to consumer’s demand. Chicken meat is considered one of the most important food commodities produced in Kuwait (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). Local production of poultry meat increased from 10,504.00MT in year 1980 to 39558.96MT in 2012 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). In addition, local production of poultry meat in Kuwait is estimated at 42000 MT in 2013 and forecasts to reach 45000 MT in 2014 (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2014a; United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2014) also the local production of poultry meat in 2023 is 61000MT reflecting continued efforts to enhance local production and reduce reliance on imports (Helgi Library, 2023). In spite of the increase in local production, importation of poultry meat to Kuwait increased to cover the high local demand for poultry meat (Figure 3). Local production succeeded in covering more than 50% of the local demand for poultry meat in 1985 and an average of 47% from 1986-1989. During the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, self-sufficiency reached 66% in 1990 due to reduction in importation and the dependency of the country on strategic stores of poultry meat, which confirm the importance of the poultry industry in food security. Local production increased steadily from 10940 MT in 1992 to 42000 MT in 2013. Local production covered 41% of the local demand in 1998–1999 but from year 2000 self-sufficiency % started to decline to reach 20% (2011) of the local demand for poultry meat (Figure 3) (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). This could be due mainly to the continuous increase in human population (Figure 3) and increased demand for poultry meat, while local production fluctuates with slight increase in meat production, which could not cover local demand. In between 2011–2025 despite efforts to boost local production, self-sufficiency rates stabilized around 30%, indicating continued reliance on imports to meet domestic demand (IndexMundi). In addition, per capita poultry meat consumption in Kuwait increased steadily from 1992 (23.3 Kg/capita/yr) to reach 63.3 Kg/capita/yr in 2011 with an average of 75.3 Kg/capita/yr from year 2000 to 2011. In between 2011-2025, per capita consumption shows a continued upward trend, reaching an estimated 87.0 kg/capita/year by 2025 (IndexMundi). Similar trend was reported in Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates. In Saudi Arabia, poultry consumption has been growing steadily at an average annual rate of 5% over the last 2 decades. Despite the steady growth in poultry consumption, domestic poultry production has not kept pace with demand. Saudi Arabia’s poultry production satisfied about 51.6% of its consumption needs in 2007. However, in 2010 poultry production had declined to satisfy about 39% of the country needs and increased poultry imports by 62% (United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2012; United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2013). As of 2025, Saudi Arabia is projected to continue facing challenges in meeting its domestic demand for poultry through local production alone, with a reliance on imports remaining significant. Projections for 2022–2025 show a gradual increase, reaching approximately 86.0 kg/capita/year by 2025, based on historical trends and available data (IndexMundi). Expansion in broiler production operations by the largest poultry producers in Saudi Arabia resulted in increasing production from 426000 MT in 2010 to 640000 MT in 2013, the projected year 2025, broiler production in Saudi Arabia is expected to reach approximately 750,000-800,000 MT (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2023). In addition, in United Arab Emirates, poultry production increased steadily from 36000 MT in 2008 to 41000 MT in 2013 and is projected to reach 43000 MT in 2014. However, the local production in UAE in 2013 covers about 17% of total market demand for poultry meat with the remaining 83% from imports (United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, 2013; United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2014). Poultry meat consumption is expected to remain strong in UAE supported by the increases in human population, growing tourism and transit passengers passing through UAE airport, and poultry price advantage over other meats (United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2014).

Poultry meat is an important component of meat consumption in Kuwait. In 2011, poultry meat consumption was estimated at 97.5 kg per person, while domestic production of 39,396 tons supplied approximately 20% of total poultry meat consumption (Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014). As of 2025, Kuwait ranks among the top countries globally in per capita meat consumption. Specifically, Kuwait is ranked 10th position worldwide, with an estimated per capita meat consumption of 87.7 kg/year (ReportLinker, 2023). Worldwide poultry meat consumption increased and surpassed livestock meat and pork consumption. As reported by USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (2014) that total domestic demand for broiler meat (ready-to-cook equivalent) for foreign countries (China, EU, Brazil, Mexico, India, Russia, Japan, South Africa, Argentina, Indonesia and others) increased from 63,623,000 tons (2010) to 70,988,000 tons (2014). In United States the total domestic demand for broiler meat increased from 13,472,000 (2010) tons to 14,087,000 tons (2014) (United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2014). The USDA projected that from 2013 to 2022, global meat consumption would grow by approximately 1.8% annually, with poultry uptake rising faster than that for pork or beef (The Poultry Site, 2013). The increase in the demand for poultry meat in Kuwait is mainly due to health related concerns about fat, saturated fat and cholesterol levels being less in chicken than in mutton, very popular dish in Kuwaiti meals, increased convenience of chicken products (skinless, boneless breast, chicken nuggets) and other products in the market, and to chickens lower price relative to red meat as part of the Kuwait government funded food subsidy program, frozen poultry meat is provided at low prices to Kuwaiti nationals (Al-Nasser, 2006; Trostle, 2011; United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2013; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014).

8 Broiler meat production in Kuwait

Broiler production is the largest component of Kuwait’s poultry industry and plays a critical role in supplying affordable, high-quality animal protein to the growing population. Owing to their rapid growth rate, excellent feed conversion efficiency, and relatively short production cycle, broiler chickens represent one of the most efficient livestock species for meat production. Nevertheless, despite continuous expansion of the commercial poultry sector, domestic broiler production remains insufficient to satisfy national demand, resulting in substantial dependence on imported poultry meat (McLaughlin et al., 2014; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024).

The rapid growth of Kuwait’s population, changing dietary preferences, urbanization, and increasing per capita poultry meat consumption have significantly increased demand over the past three decades. Poultry meat has become the preferred animal protein source because of its affordability, nutritional value, absence of major religious restrictions, and relatively lower environmental footprint compared with beef and mutton production (Godber and Wall, 2014). Consequently, strengthening domestic broiler production has become an important component of Kuwait’s national food security strategy.

Commercial broiler production in Kuwait is characterized by intensive production systems utilizing environmentally controlled housing, automated feeding and drinking systems, mechanical ventilation, evaporative cooling, and modern genetic strains such as Ross and Cobb. These technologies have substantially improved production efficiency, feed conversion ratio (FCR), growth performance, and bird welfare under Kuwait’s extreme climatic conditions. However, maintaining optimal environmental conditions throughout the summer requires considerable energy consumption and increases production costs (Al-Nasser et al., 2020B).

Despite technological advancements, heat stress remains one of the most significant constraints affecting broiler production. High ambient temperatures reduce voluntary feed intake, impair nutrient digestibility, suppress immune function, decrease growth rate, worsen feed conversion efficiency, and increase mortality. Broiler chickens are particularly susceptible to heat stress because of their rapid metabolic rate, dense feather coverage, and lack of functional sweat glands. Prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures also increases oxidative stress, intestinal dysfunction, and susceptibility to infectious diseases, ultimately reducing production efficiency and meat quality (Oluwagbenga and Fraley, 2023; Mangan and Siwek, 2024).

Feed availability represents another major challenge for Kuwait’s broiler industry. More than 90% of feed ingredients, particularly maize and soybean meal, are imported, exposing producers to fluctuations in global commodity prices, transportation costs, and international supply-chain disruptions. Feed accounts for approximately 60-70% of total broiler production costs, making nutritional efficiency and alternative feed resources critical priorities for improving the economic sustainability of poultry production (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024). Recent research has demonstrated that the incorporation of agricultural by-products, insect-derived proteins, algae, fermented feed ingredients, probiotics, and locally available plant resources may partially replace conventional feed ingredients while improving gut health, nutrient utilization, and environmental sustainability (Mangan and Siwek, 2024).

Disease prevention and biosecurity are equally important components of sustainable broiler production. The high stocking density characteristic of intensive production systems increases the risk of infectious disease outbreaks, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive vaccination programs, routine health monitoring, strict farm hygiene, and effective biosecurity measures. In addition, increasing concerns regarding antimicrobial resistance have accelerated the adoption of alternative nutritional strategies, including probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotic, phytogenic feed additives, organic acids, and enzymes to enhance gut health and reduce dependence on antibiotic growth promoters (Mangan and Siwek, 2024).

Future development of Kuwait’s broiler industry will require the integration of climate-smart poultry production technologies capable of improving productivity while reducing environmental impacts. PLF, AI, IoT-based environmental monitoring, automated ventilation systems, precision feeding, machine-learning algorithms, and real-time welfare monitoring are increasingly being adopted worldwide to optimize flock performance and resource-use efficiency. These technologies offer considerable opportunities for improving productivity, reducing energy consumption, minimizing production losses associated with heat stress, and strengthening the resilience of Kuwait’s poultry industry under future climate scenarios (Apalowo et al., 2024; Mangan and Siwek, 2024).

Overall, although Kuwait has made significant progress in modernizing its broiler production systems, continued dependence on imported poultry meat and feed ingredients remains a major challenge. Increasing domestic production through technological innovation, sustainable nutrition, improved genetics, climate-resilient housing systems, and evidence-based management practices will be essential to enhance food security and reduce import dependency in the coming decades.

9 Table egg production and demand in Kuwait

Table egg production in Kuwait increased steadily from 1980-1989 (before invasion) from 8,940 MT in 1980 to 10,745 MT in 1989, average per capita egg consumption was 13.3 kg/capita/year (about 223 eggs/capita/year), with maximum consumption of 16.2 kg/capita in 1986 (about 270 eggs/capita/year). During this period (1980- 1989) the poultry industry covered about 47% of local demand of eggs. After liberation local egg production increased from 940 tons in the year 1992 to 42000 tons in 2011. While eggs imported were reduced from 16951 tons in 1992 to 1367 tons in 2011. Self-sufficiency increased drastically from 5% in 1992 to 101% in 2011 (Al-Nasser, 2006; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2014b; Al-Nasser et al., 2015). Hence, local poultry industry succeeded in covering the local demand of poultry eggs and reducing quantity of eggs imported (Figure 4).

In 2017 table egg production peaked at 88,000 MT, but in 2022 Production was approximately 76,900 MT, a slight decrease from the previous year, with the per capita egg consumption was 16.87 Kg/capita/yr (281 eggs/capita/year) (Ritchie et al., 2023; IndexBox, 2026).

It is important to note that after liberation average per capita egg supply was 12 kg/capita/year (about 200 egg/capita/year) with maximum egg supply of 16.7 kg/capita/year in 2007 (about 278 eggs/capita/year) (Our World in Data). Figure 4 shows fluctuation in egg consumption that could be due to the consistent change in poultry producer numbers throughout the years, and to the consumer health concern related to cholesterol problems and to the change in breakfast items from eggs to cereals (Our World in Data; Al-Nasser, 2006). In addition, national and international media reports on Avian Influenza and Salmonella outbreaks could have effect in reducing consumption of eggs (Al-Nasser, 2006). Situation in Saudi Arabia is different, in spite of the increase in egg production from 120,387 MT in 1992 to 217,996 MT in 2011; average per capita egg supply was only 4.6 kg/capita/year. In addition, in United Arad Emirates, egg production increased steadily from 10,900 MT in 1992 to 28,500 MT in 2011 with continuous reduction in per capita egg supply from 12.4 kg/capita/year in 1992 to 5.4 kg/capita/year in 2011 and an average per capita consumption of 10 kg/capita/year (Our World in Data). Worldwide egg production reached 66 million MT in 2012, 56% of that was produced in Asia and 21% was produced in Americas (Our World in Data). In Saudi the egg production is 375000MT in 2022 and in United Arad Emirates is 58453MT in 2022 (Ritchie et al., 2023).

10 Major challenges and possible solutions

In spite of the high demand on poultry products worldwide, the poultry industry is facing numerous challenges on the global level. Some of these international challenges are: In spite of the high demand on poultry products worldwide, the poultry industry is facing numerous challenges on the global level. Some of these international challenges are: 1) Feed costs, which had great effect on production cost and subsequently on eggs and meat prices. 2) Biofuel production and its effect on availability of corn as major feed ingredient for poultry. 3) Emergence of poultry diseases, which cause outbreaks and economical losses. 4) Quality of poultry products and issues related to antibiotics use in poultry feed. 5) Environmental impact relative to poultry production cycle. 6) Strong global competition. 7) Consumer perception with regards to food safety and animal welfare (Godber and Wall, 2014; McLaughlin et al., 2014; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024). The poultry industry in Kuwait depends mainly on importation of major feed ingredients such as corn, and soybean from USA and India. In addition, the industry imports day-old chicks for layers and hatching eggs for broilers from Europe. Therefore, any changes in quality or price in Europe and USA will affect the local poultry industry in Kuwait. Hence, the major challenges facing the poultry industry in Kuwait are as follows: 1) High production cost, 2) Improvements of production efficiency, 3) Developments of health monitoring programs, 4) Impact of poultry production on the environment, and 5) Changes in policies and trade practices in the country.

10.1 High production cost

The high cost of local poultry production in Kuwait could be attributed to two major factors: 1) Dependency on importation of feed and other operational items, and 2) Products limitation.

10.1.1 Importation of feed and other operational items

The poultry industry in Kuwait depends on importation of feed, chicks and other operational items such as vitamins, minerals, some vaccines, medicinal products, and disinfectants. Worldwide, the biggest challenges remain high feed grain prices. In 2010, an estimated one-third of the US corn crop is used for ethanol production, and is projected that, by 2015, the amount of corn going into ethanol production in the US will be 150 MMT, which is about 50% of the amount going into poultry feed worldwide (US Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service, 2011). In 2025, an estimated one-third of the U.S. corn crop is still used for ethanol production, and it is projected that, by 2025, the amount of corn going into ethanol production in the U.S. will be around 150 MMT, which continues to be about 50% of the amount going into poultry feed worldwide (US Department of Agriculture, 2025; US Energy Information Administration, 2025). The increase in feed cost accompanied with the reduction in availability of corn as feed will affect production efficiency of poultry on the global level. Since the poultry, producers in Kuwait depend on importation of corn and soybean meal from USA and Europe, then the increase in feed prices increased the local production cost drastically. Moreover, the reduced quantity of corn and soya for the use of biofuel will create another problem for the local poultry producers, which is unavailability of enough corn for local production of meat and eggs. Therefore, the production cost of poultry meat and eggs in Kuwait is more than double that of the countries producing feed and other operational materials.

Feed cost could be reduced indirectly by proper management practices in the poultry farm such as 1) reducing feed waste which help in reducing feed quantity to be used in the poultry farm. This could be done by using feed quantity required for optimum production without overfeeding. Feeding birds to match their requirements and to improve efficiency of bird’s nutrient utilization, which will reduce the nutrient load in the manure (Penz and Bruno). In addition, using pelleted or crumbled feed may help in reducing feed waste and improving nutrient utilization. Jahan (Jahan et al., 2006) reported that crumble form of feed is better than mash and pellet form for the production of commercial broiler for the age duration 21 to 56 days. Cerrate (Cerrate et al., 2008) reported that pellet diameters of 1.59 or 2.38 mm can be beneficial during the pre-starter period and can be more useful with 2.5% poultry oil. Zohair (Zohair et al) reported that although improved broiler performance is an advantage for pellet feeding, some disadvantages seem to be connected to this feeding method in respect to animal health, a correlation between pellet feeding and the occurrence of certain metabolic diseases cannot be ignored. The increased growth rate resulting from pellet feeding may increase mortality due to ascites especially in male birds. More research need to be conducted on the pellet quality for poultry feed. 2) Using alternative feed ingredients that is cheaper than corn and soybean meal to replace part of the corn, or part of the soybean meal, and 3) using locally produced ingredients in the feed. The use of plant and animal wastes as feed ingredient in poultry rations were investigated by many studies (Sathishkumar and Prabakaran, 2008; Glatz et al., 2011; Abiola et al., 2012; Jayathilakan et al., 2012). These studies indicated that hatchery by-products can be converted into nutritionally dense meal through proper processing and could be used as source of calcium and protein for broilers and layers. However, regulatory requirements must be looked at since many countries restrict the use of animal by-products for reasons of food safety and quality. Other feed ingredients could be investigated are the use of green algae, whole dates and date pits and other plant materials such as barley, oats, rye, and wheat with the addition of appropriate enzymes to improve nutrients digestibility and availability for poultry (Friesen et al., 1992; Khattak et al., 2006; Pourreza et al., 2007). However, Brake (Brake et al., 1997) reported that barely could be used without enzyme supplementation at up to 20% of the diet in broiler grower and finisher diets without adverse effects on weight gain, feed conversion, livability and yield of broiler grown to 42 days of age. In addition, Hozlar (Hozlar et al., 2014) investigated the use of naked oats of the tartan variety on layer’s performance. The authors reported that the use of naked oat-based feed mixture for laying hens might improve intensity of the egg production, increase egg weight, reduce number of non-standard eggs and reduce cost of egg production. In addition, Saki and Alipana (2005) reported that using 20% of wheat screening in broiler ration had no adverse effect on broiler performance and that it could leads to decrease in ration price and approach more benefits for poultry industry. In 2024, Yasmeen and Ahmad highlighted (Yasmeen and Ahmad, 2025) the potential of microbial fermentation of agricultural waste to enhance the nutritional value of poultry feed. Their research suggests that fermentation processes can improve growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and gut health in broilers by enriching waste materials with probiotics, enzymes, and bioactive compounds (Yasmeen and Ahmad, 2025).

10.1.2 Products limitation

In addition, most international poultry companies produce products such as specialized breeding, grandparents, and parent farming with dedicated hatcheries, cereal and oil plant production, processing of oil plants, vitamin and mineral production, production of finished feed, production of vaccines, slaughter plant including meat processing and further processing, table egg grading and processing of manufacturing of equipment and packaging materials (Freiji, 2008). Production of all these items through the same poultry company will result in reducing cost of production and increasing profit for the company. However, in Kuwait poultry producers focus on production of table eggs and broiler meat. Some large companies produce hatching eggs and meat processing; hence, they are able to sell their products in the local market and through restaurants.

10.2 Improvements of production efficiency

Improving productivity to levels achieved in the exporting countries. This includes reduction of mortality in broilers flocks to a yearly average of below 5%, reduction of feed efficiency to below 1.7 and improving broiler parent productivity (Freiji, 2008; Rose and Al-Saffar, 2014).

Research work related to improve nutrient utilization and to improve feed conversion rate could help in reducing production cost and increasing production quality and quantity. Hence, technology transfer and the use of scientific achievements in poultry management is important for the poultry producers to reduce mortality rate and improve feed conversion rate. The transfer may occur in many ways: through patents, the flow of technological information, educational programs, workshops and conferences, training activities for the poultry personnel, meetings with the poultry producers, visits to the poultry sector, phone conversation and e-mail for direct communications with the poultry producers, preparation and dissemination of pamphlets and brochures related to scientific achievements to the poultry producers. Advances in communication and transportation have enabled technology and scientific knowledge to move across national borders more rapidly than in the past (Narrod, 1997). In addition, working closely with government organizations and local/regional scientific institutions is important for the industry to keep on continuous update and utilize latest technical information to improve their production. This could be done by involvement of the producers to work closely with research institution in Kuwait such as KISR and adopt the scientific achievements accomplished by KISR.

10.3 Developments of health monitoring programs

Health status of the birds in the poultry farm is a major concern to the poultry farm managers. It is well known that health disorders and infectious diseases of poultry are mostly associated with severe economic losses. Several pathogens either are possible causes of many diseases of poultry alone or in synergy with different microorganisms or accompanied by non-infectious factors, which influence the bird health. These factors include house structure, climatic conditions, stocking density, feed and water supply, hygienic conditions, as well as knowledge of the farm manager. These factors affect each other and can promote or inhibit the health condition of the flock. Therefore, to achieve good performance results, farm manager should integrate good environment, husbandry, nutrition, and disease control programs (Current and future challenges of the poultry industry, 2013).

Health programs include cleaning and disinfection, vaccination, pest control, and disease monitoring. In addition, immediate notification and record of abnormal situations, and monitoring for infectious control and eradication must be implemented in the poultry farm (Penz and Bruno). It is important to mention, that the most effective way to control infectious dis-eases is to prevent them from entering the flock, utilizing key measures such as improved biosecurity, robust monitoring and surveillance, and well-executed vaccination program to reduce host susceptibility to infection (Feedstuffs, 2014). In addition, enhancing immune response of the flock is of great importance for disease resistance.

Hence, it is important for the poultry producers in Kuwait to develop health-monitoring program in their farms and work closely with the government organization dealing with veterinary services to benefit from the local services. In addition, it is important to strengthen biosecurity plans with strict implementation of the biosecurity measures in the poultry farm to protect the farm from disease transmission.

As of 2025, advancements in early detection technologies, including real-time PCR diagnostics, wearable sensors, and AI-based disease forecasting systems, have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of these strategies, especially in high-density poultry production systems (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2024a).

10.4 Impact of poultry production on the environment

Environmental impact relative to poultry production will be major issues during the next decade. New methods have been developed to evaluate the impact of poultry during the entire flock life cycle on the environment. For example, is the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), an ISO-standardized procedure that proposes to evaluate the production cycle from the raw material purchase, waste production and treatment, to production of surplus recycling and disposal on the environment (Penz and Bruno). Food production, environmental quality and human quality of life issues will be increasingly exacerbated by global climate change (Beck, 2011). Climate change is an international problem and a major environmental factor affecting natural resources availability such as water, which will become increasingly limited. Proper handling and use of agricultural waste can help reduce environmental pollution, conserve resources, and create additional benefits for the community. Through the utilization of banana byproducts, agricultural waste is reduced, which contributes to the development of a circular economy in which resources are reused in an effective manner (Saeed et al., 2025).

10.5 Changes in policies and trade practices in the country

Since the poultry producers in Kuwait depend mainly on importation, then any changes in the policies and trade practices in Kuwait could have effect on the trend of production of poultry meat in Kuwait such as ban of importation of some feed ingredients, and one-day-old chicks from some countries due to disease outbreak (Trostle, 2011). Hence, improving local production of hatching eggs and development of alternative feed ingredients would help in reducing dependency of the producers on importation. In addition, compensation of the producers and increase feed subsidy during the ban period would help the producers to improve their production.

11 Research gaps and future directions

Despite substantial progress in understanding the interactions among climate change, animal production, and food security, several important knowledge gaps remain, particularly within arid and hyper-arid environments such as Kuwait. Addressing these gaps is essential for developing climate-resilient livestock systems capable of supporting national food security under future environmental conditions.

11.1 Climate change vulnerability assessment of animal production systems

Climate change is recognized as one of the most significant threats to animal production systems worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions (Rust and Rust, 2013). Although several studies have evaluated the effects of heat stress, water scarcity, and environmental degradation on livestock productivity, limited research has quantified the specific impacts of climate change on animal production systems in Kuwait. Existing information is largely derived from regional or global assessments and may not accurately represent local production conditions (McLaughlin et al., 2014; Escarcha et al., 2018). Future research should focus on developing Kuwait-specific climate models and vulnerability assessments to quantify the effects of increasing temperatures, extreme heat events, and water shortages on poultry, dairy cattle, sheep, goats, and camels. Such studies would provide essential information for designing effective adaptation strategies and improving the resilience of animal production systems.

11.2 Feed security and alternative feed resources

Feed availability and affordability remain major challenges for animal production in Kuwait because the country depends heavily on imported feed ingredients, particularly corn and soybean meal (Al-Nasser, 2006). Global disruptions in feed supply chains, fluctuating commodity prices, and increasing competition between food, feed, and biofuel industries have increased concerns regarding long-term feed security (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2021). Although recent studies have explored the use of native plants, agricultural by-products, date palm residues, algae, and fermented feed ingredients as alternative feed resources (Al-Khalaifah and Al-Nasser, 2023; Saeed et al., 2025), their commercial application remains limited. Future research should evaluate the nutritional value, digestibility, economic feasibility, and environmental sustainability of these alternative feed resources. Furthermore, studies should investigate integrated feeding strategies that reduce dependence on imported feed while maintaining animal performance and product quality.

11.3 Climate-resilient genetics and breeding programs

Genetic improvement represents a promising strategy for enhancing the resilience of livestock and poultry production systems under changing climatic conditions. Indigenous breeds often possess superior tolerance to heat stress, water scarcity, and low-quality feed resources compared with highly productive exotic breeds (Faye, 2015). However, limited information is available regarding the genetic basis of climate adaptation in animal populations raised under Kuwaiti conditions. Future research should focus on identifying genetic markers associated with heat tolerance, disease resistance, feed efficiency, and reproductive performance. Advances in genomics, marker-assisted selection, and precision breeding technologies could contribute to the development of climate-resilient animal populations capable of maintaining productivity under environmental stress conditions (Gelan and Atkinson, 2022).

11.4 PLF and digital technologies

Recent advances in PLF offer significant opportunities to improve animal productivity, health, welfare, and environmental sustainability. Technologies such as AI, IoT devices, smart sensors, automated feeding systems, and real-time environmental monitoring have been successfully implemented in many livestock production systems worldwide (Godde et al., 2021). However, the adoption of these technologies in Kuwait remains limited. Future research should evaluate the technical feasibility and economic benefits of PLF technologies under local production conditions. In addition, studies should investigate the potential of AI-based disease detection systems, automated climate-control systems, and predictive analytics for improving management decisions and reducing production risks.

11.5 Water use efficiency and sustainable resource management

Water scarcity is a critical constraint to agricultural development in Kuwait and is expected to intensify under future climate change scenarios (United Nations Environment Programme, 2012; Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2021). Animal production systems require substantial quantities of water for drinking, cooling, cleaning, and feed production. Despite the importance of water resources, limited studies have evaluated water-use efficiency and water footprints within Kuwait’s livestock and poultry sectors. Future research should investigate innovative approaches for reducing water consumption, including precision water management systems, water recycling technologies, evaporative cooling optimization, and integrated resource-management strategies. Improving water-use efficiency will be essential for enhancing the long-term sustainability of animal production systems in arid environments.

11.6 Animal health, biosecurity, and climate-related disease risks

Climate change may alter pathogen distribution, increase disease transmission, and enhance the emergence of new infectious diseases affecting livestock and poultry populations (Rust and Rust, 2013). Although biosecurity and disease-monitoring programs have been implemented within the poultry and livestock sectors, limited information is available regarding climate-related disease risks in Kuwait. Future research should focus on climate-informed disease surveillance systems, predictive disease modelling, and the development of early-warning systems for disease outbreaks. Furthermore, the integration of advanced diagnostic technologies, including molecular diagnostics, sensor-based monitoring systems, and AI applications, may improve disease prevention and control strategies within intensive animal production systems.

11.7 Towards climate-smart and sustainable animal production systems

The future sustainability of animal production in Kuwait will depend on the successful integration of climate adaptation, technological innovation, and resource-use efficiency. Climate-smart animal production systems that combine improved housing, advanced cooling technologies, precision nutrition, sustainable feed resources, and efficient water management have the potential to improve productivity while reducing environmental impacts (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013; Godde et al., 2021). In addition, integrated farming systems and circular bioeconomy approaches that utilize agricultural and animal waste for feed, fertilizer, or energy production may contribute to greater sustainability and resource efficiency (Al-Nasser et al., 2023). Strengthening collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, and industry stakeholders will be essential for translating scientific knowledge into practical solutions that enhance food security and improve the resilience of Kuwait’s animal production sector.

12 Discussion

The evidence synthesized in this review indicates that animal production contributes to Kuwait’s food security but operates under interacting environmental and structural constraints. The strongest Ku-wait-specific evidence concerns poultry production structure, environmental control, and dairy water use. These primary studies demonstrate that heat, humidity, ventilation, water availability, and imported production inputs should be considered together rather than treating air temperature as an isolated driver.

Kuwait’s poultry sector provides a clear example of the value of local evidence. A KISR survey of specialized poultry farms documented the distribution of broiler, layer, and breeder operations, while a 2026 Kuwait field study quantified improvements in broiler and layer performance and reductions in energy and water-use intensity associated with an improved cooling system (Al-Nasser et al., 2020(a; Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). These findings are more directly applicable to Kuwait than general heat-stress estimates derived from other climates.

Food-security indicators should likewise be interpreted from the underlying national production, import, and food-balance datasets. Table-egg production has exceeded domestic requirements in some years, where-as poultry-meat production remains insufficient to meet demand. Therefore, the manuscript reports self-sufficiency as a year-specific indicator rather than describing Kuwait as permanently self-sufficient in eggs. The calculation method and source dataset should be identical across the poultry and egg figures.

Water is another area in which Kuwait-specific evidence is available. The Kuwait dairy-farm water-footprint study quantified seasonal environmental conditions and water requirements, while the 2026 poultry cooling study demonstrated a 48% reduction in water-use intensity with the multi-stage system (Al-Nasser et al., 2015; Al-Khalaifah et al., 2026). These results support integrated evaluation of thermal conditions, water consumption, and production performance.

In contrast, the evidence base is weaker for climate-attributable disease losses, long-term productivity changes across sheep, goats and camels, and the economic cost of climate-related production losses. International reviews and climate assessments remain useful for explaining mechanisms and future risks, but they should not be presented as direct measurements of Kuwait. The absence of Kuwait-specific quantitative evidence should itself be identified as a major research gap.

Feed dependence remains a structural vulnerability documented by Kuwait-focused poultry literature. However, precise percentages of imported feed and production-cost shares should only be retained when the cited statistical or economic source supports the stated year and definition. This distinction is important be-cause import dependence, feed price exposure, and climate-related production losses are related but not interchangeable indicators.

The reviewed evidence therefore supports a cautious, evidence-based adaptation framework for Kuwait: improve environmental control and resource efficiency where local studies demonstrate benefits; strengthen feed and supply-chain resilience; expand Kuwait-specific monitoring of water, disease and production losses; and evaluate emerging technologies through local performance and economic trials. Recommendations should be presented as implications of the evidence rather than as unsupported author opinion.

A central limitation of the current evidence base is the lack of long-term, integrated datasets linking cli-mate variables, animal performance, water and energy use, disease, and economic outcomes at commercial-farm scale in Kuwait. Future research should prioritize standardized monitoring across production systems so that climate vulnerability and adaptation costs can be quantified directly.

13 Conclusions

This review provides an integrated assessment of animal production, climate change, and food security in Kuwait, highlighting the opportunities and constraints affecting livestock production under hyper-arid conditions. The evidence indicates that poultry remains the principal contributor to domestic animal-source food production, with Kuwait achieving self-sufficiency in table eggs, while poultry meat and red meat production continue to rely substantially on imports. Across all livestock sectors, climate change is expected to intensify heat stress, water scarcity, feed insecurity, and disease risks, placing additional pressure on production efficiency and long-term food security.

A major contribution of this review is the integration of climate-related challenges, livestock production systems, and emerging technological solutions within the specific environmental and production context of Kuwait. The review also identifies important knowledge gaps, including the limited availability of Kuwait-specific assessments of climate impacts on livestock, insufficient evaluation of locally available alternative feed resources, limited adoption and validation of PLF technologies, inadequate information on water-use efficiency, and a lack of long-term studies on climate-resilient breeding and disease surveillance under hyper-arid conditions.

Based on the available evidence, the most practical priorities for Kuwait are to strengthen climate-controlled livestock production systems, improve feed security through locally available alternative feed resources, increase water-use efficiency, and expand the application of precision livestock technologies for environmental monitoring and animal health management. These strategies are likely to provide the greatest benefits under Kuwait’s environmental, economic, and technological conditions while reducing dependence on imported production inputs.

Future research should focus on generating local evidence to support these priorities through multidisciplinary collaboration among research institutions, government agencies, and the livestock industry. Such efforts will support evidence-based decision-making and contribute to the development of resilient, climate-smart animal production systems capable of enhancing Kuwait’s long-term food security.

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Footnotes

Edited by: Ninad Bhatt, National Research Centre on Camel (ICAR), India

Reviewed by: Delane Ribas Da Rosa, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Brazil

Ines Gharbi, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Tunisia

Footnotes

AI, artificial intelligence; FAO, Food and Agriculture Organization; GCC, Gulf Cooperation Council; IPCC, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; IoT, Internet of Things; KUPCO, Kuwait United Poultry Company; LCA, Life Cycle Assessment; OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; PLF, Precision livestock farming.