The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) recently hosted a distinguished delegation of scientists, academic leaders, and institutional partners from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Kozybayev University of Kazakhstan, and affiliated institutions.
The visit served as a platform to explore strategic cooperation in agricultural innovation, food security, and genomics research across the OIC Member States. IOFS Assistant Director General, Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, welcomed the delegation and reaffirmed IOFS’s commitment to fostering partnerships that address the challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and technological gaps in agriculture.
Key areas of discussion included:
- Rice and Wheat Research: Joint efforts in developing climate-resilient and high-yielding crop varieties, with a focus on rice genomics, stress tolerance, and wheat breeding programs adaptable to diverse agro-ecological zones.
- Genomic Innovation & Biodiversity Conservation: Opportunities to collaborate on genetic resource preservation and molecular breeding through the IOFS Gene Bank and national biodiversity initiatives.
- Capacity Building & Education: Proposals for joint training programs, workshops, and educational modules in genomics, biotechnology, agronomy, and sustainable agricultural practices.
- Water Resource Management: Knowledge exchange on efficient water use in agriculture and research into irrigation technologies suited for arid and semi-arid regions.
This engagement underscores IOFS’s mission to serve as a catalyst for research-driven solutions and capacity-building within the OIC community.
IOFS looks forward to further deepening its collaboration with academic and research institutions to promote sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.
