The International Conference on the 'Best Practices for Building Sustainable Food Systems in the OIC Region’ was organized virtually by the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) on 14 July 2021. The conference was part of the Inter-Regional Dialogue on South-South Cooperation, which was held in conjunction with the Food Systems Summit 2021. The conference was attended by high-level representatives from OIC member countries, relevant OIC institutions, and other international organizations. SESRIC participated in the conference with a delegation headed by H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General, and composed of Mr. Mazhar Hussain, Director of Economic and Social Research Department and Dr. Fahman Fathurrahman, Researcher.

The conference started with opening remarks by the OIC Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs H.E. Dr. Ahmad K. Sengendo, Deputy UN Secretary General Special Envoy on Food Systems Summit Mr. Martin Frick, and Agriculture Ministers from OIC member countries. During the opening remarks, the high-level representatives expressed appreciation for the way in which the IOFS has exercised its mandate and reaffirmed their commitment to work together. They also emphasized the increasing severity of the food security challenge and stressed the need for change in the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed by utilising modern technology and creative financing to build a sustainable food system throughout the OIC region.

The conference was structured around 4 sessions covering various themes and contributed by a diverse pool of high level experts from OIC member countries, OIC institutions and other relevant international organizations. H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR addressed the conference during the fourth session on promoting agricultural development in OIC member countries. In his speech, Mr. DABUR mainly briefed the conference on the programmes and activities of SESRIC in the area of agriculture development and food security under the three mandates of the Centre; i.e. statistics, research and training. Mr. DABUR also underlined the importance of intra-OIC cooperation in promoting agriculture development and assured SESRIC’s readiness to take part in the efforts of OIC member countries and other stakeholders to promote sustainable agriculture and food security in the OIC region. Later on, Dr. Fahman Fathurrahman presented the main findings of the 2020 edition of SESRIC's regular report on ‘Agriculture and Food Security in OIC Member Countries'. Other presenters in the session provided best practices in governmental support to agricultural development from the point of view of Turkey, Kazakhstan, ICBA, and UNIDO.

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Video-recording of the Conference