Strategic Objectives:

Program Description

The program aims to create favorable conditions for sustainable development of national food sectors in OIC member countries. The primary focus is on strengthening food security, increasing the efficiency of agricultural production, development of the food processing sector and establishing sustainable food supply chains. Key mechanisms for implementing major program activities include knowledge transfer, the exchange of best practices among OIC member states, and capacity building.

Background

The national food sector represents the totality of all activities related to the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of food. The national food sector is strategically important for ensuring the country's food security, creating employment, developing rural areas, and supporting economic growth. For the OIC region the food sector development has even more profound implications due to the regional characteristics: rapid rise in the population, high ratio of rural residents, climate extremes, lack of technological advances, low investment activities etc. Many countries in the OIC are heavily dependent on agriculture and do not have well developed food processing industries. Food security is an issue of concern for many OIC MS as well, 176 million people are classed as undernourished in the OIC region, representing 10.5% of the OIC total population. The trade deficit for many staple food items is significant in some OIC MS. Most staple items are sourced from non OIC countries. In 2020, agricultural productivity in OIC MS remained insufficient to feed the growing population with productivity remaining stagnant resulting in OIC countries relying heavily on food imports to meet their local demand. As per Food Engineering Report of 2021, there is not a single company in the OIC region amongst the Top 100 Global Food Companies.

On the other hand, the OIC MS have a huge potential in the native resources, work force, strategic location and knowledge that must be utilized for the agriculture and food industry development.

One of the most important pillars of transforming food sectors is technology and knowledge that drives sustainable development. For its success along with enabling social, political, and institutional factors the investments in human capital through capacity building are required.

Program Assignments

1. Implementing knowledge transfer initiatives to enhance the development of a robust food processing sector. This includes providing training programs and workshops to empower member states (MS) with the latest techniques and technologies in food processing development.
2. Conducting training sessions and sharing best practices with MS, focusing on innovative and sustainable techniques for maximizing yields through extensive education on advanced farming practices.
3. Establishing online and offline forums and platforms for stakeholders to exchange insights, share market access information, and discuss market trends. This initiative aims to promote the growth of sustainable and resilient food markets.

Implementation

1. Developing a structured curriculum for training programs, workshops, and seminars on advanced agricultural production and food processing technologies, for the specific needs of member states
2. Establishing partnerships with leading experts, and market analysts, and institutions to facilitate capacity building sessions.
3. Conducting hands-on demonstrations and field visits to reinforce theoretical knowledge with practical application.
4. Developing a repository of best practices, case studies, and success stories to share among MS.
5. Organize periodic webinars, conferences, and regional workshops to foster offline engagement and networking.
6. Developing a centralized database for market access information, integrating data and trends.
7. Facilitate regular webinars and expert sessions on market dynamics, providing MS with up-to-date insights.
8. Monitoring and evaluate the effectiveness of knowledge transfer initiatives through regular surveys and feedback to assess the impact of programm and its updating and improvement.

Outcomes

1. Improved competencies in advanced agricultural production and food processing technologies among participants.
2. Development of specialized educational programs tailored to the specific needs of OIC countries.
3. Establishment of partnerships with leading experts, institutions, and analytical agencies, enriching the educational process.
4. Practical implementation of innovative methods through demonstrations and field visits, enhancing participants' skills.
5. Creation of an extensive repository of best practices, case studies, and success stories for knowledge exchange among OIC countries.
6. Enhancement of food security in OIC countries through more efficient resource utilization and the adoption of sustainable methods.

Highlights of planned activities

- Empowering Industry: Technology exchange and best practices for processing growth in OIC MS

- IT Monitoring of Food Security: The experience of OIC Member States, Evaluation methodology, Criteria, and Indicators

- OIC Collaboration in Africa: Business Forum