Astana, Kazakhstan - 25 December 2024 - The Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, attended the Expert Meeting on SDG2 "Zero Hunger" on December 25, 2024. Hosted at Maqsut Narikbayev University, the session was chaired by the Adviser to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Dr. Kunsulu Zakaria.
The meeting highlighted outcomes from the MIND Accelerator on Sustainable Development Goals, specifically focusing on “ZERO HUNGER.” The MIND Accelerator, initiated by the Senate of Kazakhstan, is a think tank at Maqsut Narikbayev University dedicated to applied research and the development of sustainable initiatives in Kazakhstan and globally.
Key discussions centered on proposals to strengthen legal frameworks supporting agrarian science in Kazakhstan, emphasizing the essential role of agricultural biodiversity in ensuring food security. The meeting notably focused on the collaborative efforts between the IOFS and the National Agrarian Science Educational Center (NASEC) to establish the IOFS International Genebank, which will serve all 57 member states of the OIC.
Dr. Aigul Akhmedzhanova, Chairman of NASEC, expressed deep appreciation for the IOFS’s support and demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing the project, including plans for modernizing Kazakhstan's Genebank as part of the broader IOFS Genebank initiative.
The event culminated with the ceremonial signing of a roadmap between the IOFS and NASEC, cementing a mutual commitment to the establishment of the IOFS International Genebank. At this juncture, Dr. Kunsulu Zakaria profoundly thanked the IOFS for its visionary leadership and initiative, highlighting the crucial role of international collaboration in this domain. In reciprocation, Ambassador Berik Aryn emphasized the project’s critical importance for OIC member countries in preserving agricultural biodiversity and extended heartfelt gratitude towards the Government of Kazakhstan for its unwavering support.
