Antalya, Türkiye – 17 April 2026 - H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security, participated in the 5th Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2026, held from 17 to 19 April 2026 in Antalya, Republic of Türkiye.
Hosted by Türkiye as a leading platform for global dialogue and diplomacy, the Forum was officially inaugurated by H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Türkiye, and brought together Heads of State and high-level dignitaries, including H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Held under the theme “Mapping Tomorrow, Managing Uncertainties,” the Director General participated as a key speaker in the panel discussion “Overproduced, Underfed: A Strategic Reset for Global Food Security.” In his remarks, Ambassador Aryn commended Türkiye, as one of the distinguished IOFS Member States, for its continued demonstration of leadership in shaping global responses to interconnected challenges, including food security, climate resilience, and sustainable development. He further emphasized that global food insecurity is not rooted in insufficient production, but in disparities related to access, distribution, and systemic resilience, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
He then called for a paradigm shift from efficiency-driven models toward more resilient, inclusive, and adaptive food systems. Highlighting IOFS flagship initiatives, such as strategic food security reserves, Speed Breeding technologies, and climate smart agriculture, while underscoring the Organization’s commitment to strengthening preparedness and solidarity among Member States from humanitarian point of view.
Importantly, the discussions in Antalya resonate strongly with the upcoming Regional Ecological Summit next week in Astana, where similar themes of sustainability, land restoration, and climate adaptation will be advanced. The Director General noted that aligning food security strategies with ecological and climate priorities will be critical in bridging policy and action across regions.
In this context, IOFS, in partnership with Türkiye, will convene a dedicated side-event on Integrated Climate Action, Land Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation for Food Security and Resilience (Advancing Rio Conventions Synergies). This initiative will further contribute to the global agenda in the lead-up to COP31, which Türkiye is set to host in Antalya in November, reinforcing the country’s pivotal role as a hub for climate diplomacy and sustainable development dialogue.
The IOFS stands ready to continue supporting the goals of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which continues to serve as a vital platform for fostering international cooperation, with Türkiyeat the forefront of facilitating strategic dialogue and collective action toward a more resilient and food-secure future.
