SESRIC welcomed Prof. Zulfiqar ALI, Director of Programmes & Project Department at the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) at its Headquarters in Ankara on 23 May 2024.

Directors of the technical departments at SESRIC participated in the meeting that aimed to discuss the progress achieved on the Agreed Joint Activities between the two institutions, in line with the Matrix of the 7^th Annual Coordination of the OIC Institutions (ACMOI), which was held on 17-18 January 2024 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In addition, new areas of potential collaboration were considered with the main aim to further leveraging the expertise of SESRIC and IOFS that align with the mutual objectives of both institutions.

Both parties agreed that further efforts could be exerted towards advancing data collection and analysis for the OIC countries, particularly in areas related to agriculture and food security. Furthermore, they evaluated the potential of establishing a structured mechanism that contribute to addressing specific challenges that face the OIC countries in this domain.

The IOFS is a specialised institution of the OIC whose aim is to provide expertise and technical know-how to member states on various aspects of sustainable agriculture, rural development, food security, and biotechnology; assess and monitor the state of food security in member states; coordinate, formulate and implement common agricultural policies, It also addresses problems posed by desertification, deforestation, erosion, and salinity; and eventually mobilize and manage financial and agricultural resources to enhance food security.