Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority ADAFSA’s Post

#FAO's latest #foodpolicy Monitoring Bulletin for the Near East and North Africa region, developed under my leadership, focuses on the critical importance of increased #investments in transforming regional #agrifoodsystems. The lack of adequate public and private investments necessitates scaling up additional private and public investments by repurposing existing agricultural subsidies towards more sustainable and nutritious agricultural products and increasing SDG-aligned, inclusive and innovative financial resources. Regarding recent developments in the region, although #food price #inflation is still the highest in the Near East and North Africa region, compared to other world regions, food prices show a steady or decreasing trend in most regional countries. Most crop plantings were carried out in November 2023 with favourable initial conditions.  Besides the tremendous human suffering, the #israelpalestineconflict has immensely deteriorated the food insecurity in the Gaza Strip, where about 2.2 million people are facing acute hunger and farm production suffers a 1.6 million USD daily loss. FAO is mobilizing vital agricultural supplies, fodder, water, veterinary kits and fuel to Gaza once access is available. In the broader region, Djibouti, Lebanon, Mauritania, Palestine, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are expected to have a widespread lack of access to food, while Libya and Sudan are experiencing severe localized food insecurity. Monitoring recent #food #policies in the region reveals that countries are diversifying towards cheaper wheat import sources, boosting food reserves and local production of food and fertilizers. The United Arab Emirates continues to develop a wide net of free trade agreements and plans to build a new trade corridor connecting Europe to the Near East and Asia. Trade restrictive measures in the region included the introduction of an export ban on olive oil in the Syrian Arab Republic, followed by Morocco.  One of the significant focuses of regional food policies continues to be reducing water stress and fighting #climatechange by measures such as constructing dams to harness rainwater, investing in drought-resistant crops, and water-saving irrigation. In addition, a genetic resources bank was set up in Saudi Arabia to safeguard the genetic diversity of plant resources. Countries also benefit from international cooperation and best practices in implementing smart farms, vertical farming, carbon footprint measurement and methane-reducing technologies, and increasing local dairy production; regional initiatives included supplying drought-resistant seed varieties to Libya.

Exciting Insights from GMUS-4! 🌱 Xavier Sarda, Head of Residues & Food Safety Unit, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) presented on "Evolution of the European Context of Risk Assessment, from Chemicals to Biopesticides". His talk shed light on significant developments in the EU regulations and guidelines. Here are some key highlights: - Development of specific guidelines, such as the guidance on the risk assessment of metabolites produced by microorganisms used as plant protection products. - National-level initiatives like France's "Liste du biocontrôle," which excludes certain hazardous substances. - Remarkable rise of biopesticides as major players in active substance approval in the EU. - Updates in EU regulations and production of new guidelines, accompanied by fresh challenges for risk assessors and managers. This presentation underscores the dynamic evolution of risk assessment in the European context, reflecting a shift towards more sustainable and bio-friendly agricultural practices. Take a look at his presentation to know: https://lnkd.in/gETSiGmF Stay tuned for more enlightening insights from our speakers at GMUS-4! #GMUS4 #Biopesticides #EURegulations #SustainableAgriculture #RiskAssessment 🌿

Bilateral Meeting between IOFS and PICA Strengthens Collaboration on Palestinian Food Security Astana, Kazakhstan - 11 June 2024 - In a concerted effort to address the pressing food security challenges facing Palestine, the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) and the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA) convened for a bilateral meeting on 11 June 2024. The online meeting, facilitated by both organizations, saw high-level participation from key representatives. The meeting began with introductory remarks from His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn Director-General of IOFS, and His Excellency Ambassador Imad Zuhairi, Director-General of PICA, highlighting the critical importance of cooperation and strategic partnership in tackling food security issues. Ambassador Aryn reaffirmed IOFS's unwavering commitment to supporting Palestine, emphasizing a profound sense of duty and solidarity. He stressed the urgent need for collective action to address the challenges facing the Palestinian people. Ambassador Zuhairi expressed PICA's keen interest in strengthening collaboration and partnership with IOFS to address food security challenges in Palestine and in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) Geography. Following the productive discussions, both parties agreed to concrete action points, including the exploration of collaboration opportunities in critical areas such as water management in agriculture and Climate Smart Agriculture. Showing their commitments, IOFS and PICA started working on an MoU ensuring mutual agreement and understanding. IOFS extended an invitation to PICA for the 7th General Assembly scheduled to be held in Astana on 26-27 August 2024, fostering continued engagement and participation. Both organizations will start preparing a joint action plan for the period 2024-2026, with the potential to apply for funding from relevant funding institutions. The bilateral meeting between IOFS and PICA marks a significant step forward in strengthening collaboration and addressing food security challenges in Palestine. Both organizations remain committed to working together to support the Palestinian people and achieve sustainable development goals.

From FAO: An interview with Alexis Kabayiza, Government Coordinator in Rwanda Dr Kabayiza is the Government Coordinator of the “Strengthening Food Control and Phytosanitary Capacities and Governance” in Rwanda. He has been Chief Technical Advisor at the Ministry of Trade since 2021. We wanted to learn more about him, about his background, what led him to our project and how he sees the project impacting his country. Read more at link below #foodsafety

Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Engages in WTO Aid for Trade Panel on “Development of Commodity Trade and Food Security in Africa” Geneva, Switzerland - June 27, 2024 — At the instruction of the Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security H.E. Amb. Berik Aryn, Director of the Programs and Projects Department, Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali participated in a high-profile panel discussion focused on enhancing food security through improved commodity trade in Africa. The panel was held as part of the WTO Aid for Trade Global Review 2024, taking place at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva. Organized under the theme “Development of Commodity Trade and Food Security in Africa,” the panel aimed to explore avenues for enhancing agricultural and agro-food production in Africa. It sought to identify strategies for leveraging technical and financial support to strengthen infrastructure and create conducive regulatory frameworks for trade and investment in the region. The panel was moderated by Mrs. Latifa El Bouabdellaoui, Director General of the Islamic Center for Development of Trade (ICDT). The panelists included: - Ambassador Omar Zniber, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Morocco to the United Nations Office in Geneva - Diwakar Dixit, Advisor Secretary of the Agriculture Committee, Agriculture and Commodities Division (WTO) - Dr. Ahmad Mukhtar, Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) - Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali, Director of Programs and Projects Department, IOFS Secretariat During his intervention, Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali highlighted the efforts of IOFS in addressing food security challenges across Africa. He emphasized the strategic focus of the Organization on promoting agricultural development and rural resilience within the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC ) Member States, particularly those in Africa. Prof. Dr. Zulfiqar Ali outlined IOFS’s initiatives under the Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI), which was declared during the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in 2023. He also underscored IOFS’s commitment to leveraging the WTO Aid for Trade framework to support food security initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. He outlined IOFS’s "National Food Sector Development" program, aimed at enhancing trade capabilities among OIC member states through knowledge transfer, capacity building, and the establishment of trade-friendly policies. The Islamic Organization for Food Security remains committed to fostering collaboration and implementing strategic initiatives to ensure sustainable food security and agricultural development across Africa. By leveraging frameworks like the WTO Aid for Trade and through programs such as the Africa Food Security Initiative, IOFS aims to create a resilient and self-sufficient agricultural sector in OIC Member States.

Second EU Regulation ((EU) 2024/2140), amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 and informing on the recognition of additional CBs for EU Compliance was published on August 6, 2024. Among the 15 newly recognized CBs in this Regulation, 10 are accredited by IOAS. Congratulations to ACT (Thailand), BBCM (New Macedonia), Biotropico (Colombia), CHTC (PR.China), COAP (Palestine), ETKO (Turkey), IBD (Brazil), Lacon (India), OIA (Argentina) and Organska Kontrola (Bosnia and Herzegovina). These CBs join Food Safety (Argentina), Organic Standard (Ukraine) and Southern Cross Certified Australia, who were included in the first Regulation as recognized CBs for compliance. Of 32 CBs recognized for compliance to date, 13 are accredited by IOAS. #ioas #organic #certification #certificationbody #lacon #apeda #europeanunion #europeancommission #india #organicfarming #organicproducts

FAO, Lesotho sign strategic framework to transform agrifood systems https://lnkd.in/d5ew2TXu #Africa #foodsafetyafrica #foodsafety #foodbusiness #foodindustry #foodmanufacturing #foodprocessing #foodhygiene #foodquality #regulatory #policies #compliance #systemsmanagement #laboratory #technology #foodsecurity #news #foodsystems

🌍 FAO has released an insightful report on food security in the #LAC region. This report provides valuable information and analysis on the current state of food security, challenges, and opportunities in the region. 📚 To gain access to this report, click on the link below: https://lnkd.in/e--tvmpZ 🌱 It is crucial for policymakers, researchers, development finance institutions and industry leaders to stay informed about food security issues and collaborate on sustainable solutions for #LAC. This report will serve as a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of food security in LAC and identifying strategies to address them. 🗣️ This document presents a first approach to the issue of the financing needed for the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in all its forms in Latin America and the Caribbean. 🌱 At IDB Invest our ultimate goal is to bring together all stakeholders and execute a comprehensive action plan at all levels of the food value chain to support with investments the private sector as part of the solution. We are committed to ensuring a resilient and food-secure future for the region. #FoodSecurity #LatinAmerica #Caribbean #Sustainability #Collaboration #FAO #Report

Despite challenges, food security remains a top priority for OIC countries. With agriculture contributing significantly to GDP and employment, innovative solutions and strategic partnerships are key to overcoming obstacles. Discover how OIC countries are bolstering food security and paving the way for a brighter tomorrow. AlMukarramah Islamic Organization for Food Security DinarStandard Conor Clifford Murphy Afzal Hussain #foodsecurity #oic #gfsi

Russia makes a major contribution to global food security Russia, like other BRICS states, plays a very important role in ensuring food security on the planet, it was noted at the panel session of SPIEF 2024. https://lnkd.in/eV6Zf637