On March 6, 2023, IOFS Director Programmes and Projects Department Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali participated in the inaugural session to designate the Centre for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security (CAS-AFS), at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan to be a D-8 Research Center for Agriculture and Food Security. A two-day conference on "Food Security challenges and opportunities in D-8 countries" was also inaugurated on the occasion. H.E. Amb Isiaka A Imam Secretary General of the organization of D-8 countries including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye inaugurated the ceremony of designation in the presence of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Iqrar A Khan, FAO country head/representative Ms Florence Rolle, IOFS representative Prof Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, D-8 Country representatives, Vice Chancellors of the Agriculture and Veterinary Universities, policy makers, representative of public and private sector organizations, faculty and students.
This center aims to foster interdisciplinary research to address emerging challenges of agriculture and food security. To achieve its objectives, the center works under five thematic chairs i.e., Climate Change, Precision Agriculture, Biotechnology, Policy, and Outreach. Along with its focused research programs on solution driven applied research, the center has developed state of the art facilities and resources to act as a research hub for innovative research in the region and beyond. Reps from each member state are presenting country papers during the conference. All national stakeholders from public and private sectors as well as intergovernmental organizations in Pakistan are showcasing their activities for future collaboration/cooperation among the D-8 member states and beyond. In addition to presentations, an expo has been organized for Pakistani organizations to exhibit their research and products to the participants.
Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali met with the Vice Chancellor University of Agriculture Faisalabad Pakistan, H.E. Amb Isiaka A Imam Secretary General of the organization of D-8 countries, Mr. Ahmar Ismail Director Administrative, Legal and Internal Issues D-8 Turkiye, Mr. Ahmadu Babagana Nigeria Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, and Mr. Bilal Shah Director International Cooperation Foreign Office Islamabad and discussed the potential future collaborative opportunities to address the food security in OIC geography.
