The State of Qatar participated in the annual celebration of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) Day, which falls on Dec 12 of each year, at the organisation's headquarters in Astana, capital of Kazakhstan.
In a speech on this occasion, Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Chairman of the Executive Council of IOFS, Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al Marri affirmed that the annual celebration of the organisation reminds of its important role towards achieving partnerships for sustainable food security in Islamic countries and documents its keenness on the need to enhance responsibility, join hands with joint efforts, and increase effective coordination among the member states of the organisation to raise awareness of food security issues, achieve its requirements of providing sufficient, healthy and balanced nutrition, and increase the ability to obtain it at the appropriate cost and required quality, in order to achieve sustainable development, social stability, and a decent life for the Islamic people.
He stated that this comes in light of the current situation and the recurring crises that threaten food security in countries of the world in general and Islamic countries in particular, which requires more concerted efforts and capacity building to strengthen the food security system to withstand these challenges.
Dr. Masoud noted that the escalating crises and growing challenges facing the world, such as disruptions in international food supply chains, water scarcity and climate change, and their negative impact on agriculture and food production make it necessary for the organisation's member states to pay more attention to food security issues, discuss difficulties and challenges, and search for appropriate solutions, effective and appropriate strategies and policies that are able to cope, adapt and deal with changing conditions and emergency crises.
He added that the Islamic Organization for Food Security, on this occasion, affirms its continuation of work to implement its commitments towards food security issues of Islamic countries, by providing expertise and technical knowledge, assessing and monitoring the food security situation, providing social safety nets and humanitarian assistance, coordinating, formulating and implementing common agricultural policies, and transferring technology, and striving to address problems such as desertification, deforestation, erosion and salinity, in addition to providing and managing financial and agricultural resources, in various aspects of sustainable agriculture, rural development, food security, and biotechnology, in a manner that works to achieve the goals of food security.
Concluding his speech, Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality, Chairman of the Executive Council of IOFS, Dr. Masoud Jarallah Al Marri pointed out that the organisation calls on all member states to strengthen their cooperation with the organisation, mobilise the political will to support and strengthen efforts to achieve the desired goal, and build a food security system that is able to withstand and adapt to the challenges and crises that threaten it, as well as interacting with the organisations programs and activities, raising community awareness of food security issues, and striving for more cooperation and understanding among member states; In order to face all the challenges facing food security issues.
Dr. Masoud Al Marri will chair the meeting of the Executive Council of the organisation tomorrow, representing the State of Qatar, which won the presidency of the Executive Council in its new session, which extends for three years. The Council will discuss many topics, the most important of which is the organisation's plan during the coming period to enhance food security in Islamic countries, as well as the adoption of programs and projects for this plan.
