Abu Dhabi, UAE – November 27, 2024 - The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) continued its active engagement at the Global Food Security Summit (GFSS) 2024, with participation from H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, IOFS Director General, who delivered a keynote speech emphasizing the critical need for global cooperation to combat food insecurity. Opening addresses were also delivered by Mr. Saleh Lootah, CEO of International IFPA and Chairman of the UAE Food & Beverage Business Group, and H.E. Dr. Abdulhakim Elwaer, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa.
In his address, Ambassador Aryn highlighted the urgency of addressing food insecurity, which affects over 733 million people globally, with 12 out of 22 hunger hotspots located in Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States. He praised the UAE for its leadership in hosting the summit, acknowledging the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the hospitality extended by the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment وزارة التغير المناخي والبيئة.
The Director General emphasized IOFS’s efforts in advancing food security through flagship programs like the Strategic Commodities Initiative and the IOFS Gene Bank. He also highlighted IOFS’s swift humanitarian responses in regions such as Afghanistan, Syria, and Gaza, while advocating for long-term solutions like climate-smart agriculture, AI-driven technologies, and sustainable farming practices.
Bilateral Meetings
H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), met with H.E. Dr. Amna Bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE, to discuss enhancing collaboration on sustainable agriculture and climate-smart initiatives. The meeting emphasized aligning efforts to address food security challenges and integrating innovative solutions to build resilient food systems across OIC Member States.
In a separate meeting, Ambassador Aryn engaged with Dr. Mahamadou Tounkara, Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Their discussions centered on promoting green growth planning and implementation, with a focus on leveraging GGGI’s expertise to support IOFS programs in advancing climate-resilient agricultural practices and sustainable development across the region.
Additionally, the Director General received Mr. Amath Pathe Sene, Managing Director of Africa’s Food Systems Forum (AGRF), with whom discussions centered on the potential participation of IOFS at the annual AGRF Summit, which will be taking place in Dakar, Republic of Senegal, in September 2025, where the Organization may organize a side-event to showcase the work being done in the implementation of Africa Food Security Initiative.
Panel Sessions
IOFS also actively participated in key panel discussions on Day 2:
1. Enhancing Food Security Resilience in OIC Member States:
The session was moderated by Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo from the IOFS , with the participation of esteemed representatives from the OIC Labour Centre and SESRIC, examining how geopolitical instability, climate-induced disruptions, and supply chain vulnerabilities impact food security. IOFS highlighted its role in fostering collaborative frameworks to ensure reliable access to food for all Member States.
2. Reducing Food Loss and Waste:
IOFS Program Manager Bakytzhan Arystanbek showcased the organization’s innovative approaches to minimizing food waste, emphasizing the importance of reducing loss across the supply chain to enhance global food availability.
IOFS Pavilion Highlights
The IOFS Pavilion attracted significant attention, showcasing initiatives such as:
- The Asia-Africa Bridge for strategic commodities like wheat, rice, and cassava.
- Biochar technology for sustainable farming.
- Climate-smart agriculture solutions.
- Humanitarian Initiatives
- IOFS International Genebank
The Pavilion also served as a collaborative platform for Member States and OIC institutions, including OIC Labour Centre, SESRIC and SMIIC, promoting partnerships and innovative solutions to food security challenges.
Day 2 of GFSS 2024 reaffirmed IOFS’s commitment to addressing food security challenges through partnerships, innovation, and inclusive strategies, paving the way for sustainable solutions across Member States.
