According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Saudi Arabia will begin a gradual reduction of wheat production that culminates with the elimination of the crop in 2016. The nation's scarce water resources are the reason for the change.

Arabia will reduce production by 12.5% next year and use imports to make up the difference. USDA says that by 2016, Arabia could be one of the world's 15 largest wheat importers. Currently producing about 2.5 million tons of wheat a year, Arabia is estimated to import 3.4 million tons in 2016.