Ankara, Türkiye – September 22-23 – Under the framework of the OIC Healthy, Halal, and Safe Food Ecosystem Program, the Islamic Organization for Food Security is partnering with the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) within its Agriculture and Food Security Capacity Building (Agri-CaB) Programme and Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, to host a Study Visit on “Food Waste Management” from 22-23 September 2025 in Ankara.
This high-level event brings together experts from five Caucasian and Central Asian OIC Member States - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - to address one of the most pressing challenges to food security: food loss and waste (FLW). The agenda included a policy and practice approach, featuring field visits to the Eco-Farming & Zero Waste Education Centre in Sincan and the Composting & Organic Waste Management Facility in Altındağ, providing participants with a real-world view of effective waste management systems.
The study visit is a direct implementation of IOFS's strategic mandate to enhance food security across the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) region. IOFS is actively tackling the issue of FLW through targeted capacity-building, regional consultations, and the development of practical tools. A cornerstone of this effort is the forthcoming FLW Index and Report, designed to empower member countries with data-driven insights to assess, manage, and significantly reduce food losses.
By facilitating the exchange of best practices, such as Türkiye's successful models, we are building the necessary capacities to strengthen our collective food systems, from farm to fork. Our initiatives, including the development of the FLW Index, are crucial for turning commitment into measurable action.”
The visit aligns with the OIC-2025 Programme of Action, particularly its priorities on Agriculture and Food Security, Poverty Alleviation, and the Environment, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on Zero Hunger and Responsible Consumption.
This study visit aims to create a window of opportunity for innovative agricultural and food management, ultimately contributing to more efficient policymaking and stronger intra-OIC partnership for food security.
