Ankara, Türkiye – On 21 May 2024, Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Director Programs and Projects Department of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), held a productive meeting with Mr. Ahmet Volkan Gungoren, Acting Director General for European Union and Foreign Relations, Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry of Türkiye. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation and support from the Ministry to implement IOFS food security strategy 2031, with a particular emphasis on capacity building for IOFS Member States in agricultural development and value addition.
During the meeting, both parties reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering collaboration to address food security challenges in member countries. The Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry Türkiye expressed its readiness to actively support IOFS initiatives aimed at fostering agricultural development and resilience.
Key areas of collaboration discussed include:
1. Capacity Building: The Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry Türkiye has pledged to support IOFS in enhancing the capacity of its Member States in various aspects of agricultural development, including training programs and knowledge sharing initiatives.
2. Climate Smart Agriculture: Recognizing the importance of climate-resilient agricultural practices, both IOFS and the Ministry will work together to promote Climate Smart Agriculture initiatives among member countries.
3. Genetic Resources and Seed Systems: Efforts will be directed towards the conservation and utilization of genetic resources through the establishment of gene banks and strengthening seed systems to ensure sustainable agricultural production.
4. Digital Agriculture: Embracing technological advancements, IOFS and the Ministry will collaborate on promoting digital agriculture solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency in the agricultural sector.
The meeting concluded with a mutual understanding of the importance of concerted efforts in achieving food security and sustainable agricultural development in member countries. Both IOFS and the Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry Türkiye reiterated their commitment to working closely together towards the realization of these shared goals.
