DOHA: The second high-level forum on food security of the Islamic Organization for Food Security began on Sunday at the Sheraton Doha Hotel and via video conference. The event will continue for three days.
In his opening speech, Minister of Municipality HE Dr Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie said that the forum is an important platform for discussing issues of food security and agricultural development in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states, reflecting the shared commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the faced challenges collectively.
The agenda of this important forum, His Excellency added, covers many sessions and discussions aimed at promoting common goals through holding three sub-forums, the first of which is the forum on the role of civil society in promoting food security, the second is the forum on advanced agricultural technology and its role in promoting sustainable food security, and the third is the forum of the International Islamic Food Processing Association on strengthening food markets in the OIC countries.
His Excellency hoped that the activities of the high-level forum would culminate in fruitful discussions and positive results that meet the aspirations of the Islamic countries, and that its proposed strategies and solutions will be implementable to contribute to confronting challenges, improving food security indicators and promoting sustainable agricultural development in all OIC member states, stressing that exchanging visions and enhancing cooperation and joint discussions would pave the way for a safer future for the food of the Islamic peoples.
Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of the Republic of Tunisia HE Mahmoud Elyes Hamza stressed the importance of focusing on achieving development and self-sufficiency as much as possible to achieve food security, especially in light of the crises and profound and rapid transformations the world is witnessing at various levels with regard to unprecedented high prices of basic foodstuffs, energy and fuel, as well as climate change and droughts in some countries, and the increasing pressure on natural resources and their effects, risks and repercussions on the agricultural sector and food security for peoples.
These circumstances require all of us to pay attention, intensify efforts and mobilize energies to improve the agricultural sector and raise its productivity, in a way that enhances the food security of our countries, given that food is the first necessary and basic human need, the first necessities of life and the source of people's security and stability, he added.
In the same context, Assistant Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan HE Yerbol Karashukeyev pointed out that the second high-level forum of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, which brings together 150 participants representing more than 46 countries and 80 experts, reflects the international community's attention to the issue of food security, expressing thanks to the State of Qatar for hosting the forum.
He said that the issue of food security has become relevant to our daily lives due to the fluctuations and inflation in food prices, attributing this to major global crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, regional conflicts, and declining economic growth, emphasizing the need for the international community to cooperate with governments and private sector.
For his part, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs, of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, stressed the importance of the topics discussed by the forum related to food security and supply problems, caused by armed conflicts and their impact on the rise in the prices of commodities and food products, especially in the fragile and vulnerable countries of the organization. Pointing out that the poorest are the most affected by these crises and natural disasters.
Dr. Sengendo outlined that 23 countries in the organisation are considered among the lowest-income countries, who request assistance to provide food supplies, and that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation through its impact on supply chains.
He explained that in 2022, the proportion of the population of the organization’s member states suffering from malnutrition reached 2.8 percent, pointing out the need to focus on developing solutions to the challenges of agriculture, food production, and population increase, due to their impact on the market, trade, investment, economic incentives, and the increasing rate of diseases.
He pointed out that the problems of food security and widespread conflicts require producing more food, providing water resources, increasing investments, and developing the technology, in addition to enhancing interoperability and working with scientists, policymakers, the private sector, civil society organisations, and stakeholders to reach the desired goals.
For his part, FAO Assistant Director-General Dr Abdul Hakim Elwaer expressed his happiness with the activities of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) as a regional institution that implements the FAO agenda against agricultural and food challenges, understands the local contexts of its member states, and finds solutions to their challenges.
He pointed out that the world today is at an important turning point to redefine and correct approaches, policies, supply chains, and cooperation among its countries, not only due to the recent Russian-Ukrainian war but to other challenges such as climate change and local conflicts and rising population which increased demand for food.
The IOFS countries face enormous challenges in their efforts to confront poverty and malnutrition, and to provide community members with access to healthy and adequate food, he added, attributing this to several challenges and factors that constituted a burden on the population and governments of the member states to ensure food security.
Elwaer reviewed some statistics showing that famines in the region in 2022 reached their highest levels, as the number of people suffering from malnutrition reached 59.9 million, or 75.9 percent, more than in 2000 - about 13 percent of the population and nine percent higher than the global average.
The acute food insecurity has affected more than 100 million people, constituting 60 percent of the region’s population, an increase of four million compared to 2021, he added, noting that these complications are affected by conflicts, climate change, the galloping food prices worldwide, economic slowdown, social unrest, and income inequality that is the primary driver of food insecurity.
There is a need to revitalize intra-trade to ensure the achievement of the four dimensions - food availability, access, continuity and stability - to ensure food security, he added, calling for reducing pressure on water resources and transforming food systems to be more effective, comprehensive and sustainable. He added that trade could be an enabling factor for these policies while supporting programs that enhance food production.
In the same context, the Director of Programs and Projects, IOFS, Dr Zulfiqar Ali reviewed the organization's achievements over the past year, the basic challenges it faces, and its future visions in the field of sustainable agricultural technology, and enhancing the role of women, civil society, and the private sector in achieving food sustainability.
Ali highlighted the most important topics discussed by the organization's second high-level forum, which aims to reduce imports, manage water, and benefit from the experiences of others in using modern technologies in irrigation, food industries, modern agriculture, and improving products, stressing the role of civil society in developing agriculture and food security and exchanging knowledge and innovative ideas to develop agricultural policies and systems.
Organized by the Ministry of Municipality in cooperation with IOFS, the forum brings together more than 100 participants, and 60 speakers from OIC countries, non-member countries of the Organization, and speakers from national and international organizations. The forum covers topics such as developing national food sectors, investments in the food industry, and agrifood projects across the region.
