Tashkent, Uzbekistan - 10–14 November 2025 - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) actively participated in the Technical Workshop on Locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA), held from 10 to 14 November 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The workshop, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in close cooperation with national plant protection authorities, brought together government experts, specialists, and partner organizations to strengthen regional coordination and preparedness against locust threats in the CCA region.
Representing IOFS, Dr. Abdelaziz HAJJAJI joined delegates from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the Caucasus countries. The workshop addressed the full spectrum of locust management, from national anti-locust campaign reviews to forecasting, monitoring systems, environmental safeguards, and biopesticide innovations.
As an organization supporting food security and resilience in OIC Member States, IOFS emphasized the importance of:
- Strengthening national capacities and governance frameworks for transboundary pest management.
- Promoting knowledge exchange between Central Asia and other OIC regions, including the Sahel, which faces similar locust challenges.
- Encouraging the use of digital tools, early-warning systems, and environmentally friendly control approaches aligned with IOFS’s Climate-Smart Agriculture and Transboundary Pest Control programs.
IOFS also reiterated its commitment to supporting member states in strengthening surveillance systems, facilitating regional cooperation, and mobilizing technical partnerships to reduce the impacts of locust outbreaks on food security.
The workshop highlighted the essential role of regional solidarity and technical coordination in responding effectively to locust threats. IOFS continues to work closely with FAO, national ministries, and regional bodies to enhance locust monitoring, early response, and environmentally responsible control strategies across member countries.
