Astana, Kazakhstan — 1 December 2025. The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) participated in the Youth Diplomacy Forum session on “Role of Youth in Food Security & Climate-Smart Agriculture.” Mr. Bakdaulet Yerkhanov, Program Manager at IOFS, delivered a keynote address stressing the central role of young people in transforming agriculture and building resilient food systems across the OIC region.
Mr. Yerkhanov highlighted the growing impact of climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity on global food production, noting that 733 million people face hunger worldwide and 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. Food insecurity in OIC Member States remains above the global average, underlining the need for innovation-driven solutions.
With more than 60% of populations in many OIC countries under 30, he emphasized that youth are uniquely positioned to lead modern agricultural transformation. He outlined key opportunity areas, including digital agriculture, climate-smart technologies, entrepreneurship, resilient crop development, and improved livestock systems.
During the event, Mr. Yerkhanov also presented IOFS initiatives supporting Member States in sustainable agriculture, strategic crops, livestock development, soil and water management, and food security governance. He encouraged young professionals to engage in research, pilot projects, agribusiness, and community-level climate action.
The event convened young leaders, students, and practitioners from various countries, contributing to a shared vision for a more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart future for food systems across the OIC region.
