A landmark partnership has been forged between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to bolster global food security and nutrition. Central to this trilateral pact is the empowerment of rural smallholder farmers, equipping them with innovative, affordable, and adaptable technologies vital for food security.
IsDB’s Vice President of Operations, Dr. Mansur Muhtar, underscored this alliance’s pivotal role in confronting the pressing issues of food insecurity and malnutrition rampant in many IsDB Member Countries. “Through our synergies with FAO and IFAD, we’re in a robust position to pinpoint and implement innovative technologies that can seamlessly dovetail with the IsDB’s Food Security Response Program (FSRP) and various agricultural ventures,” he noted.
AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa (NENA), highlighted the acute food security challenges confronting the NENA region, especially among small-scale agriculturalists. He expressed optimism that this joint venture would be instrumental in deploying technologies across the agrarian value chain, fostering better livelihoods and food security. “This collaboration marks a significant step since the inception of an MoU between FAO and IsDB in 2020,” Elwaer added.
Thouraya Triki, IFAD’s Director of Sustainable Production, Markets, and Institutions Division, pinpointed technology’s transformative potential in agriculture. “In spite of numerous efforts to technologically empower farmers, there’s a pressing demand for bolstered capacities and rapid innovation via partnerships,” she said. Triki envisions this cooperative agreement as a catalyst for achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030.
The collaboration is committed to championing smart agricultural technologies and digital tools tailored for sustainable and low-carbon farming. These innovations are poised to bolster resilience, combat poverty, generate jobs, and shield communities from climate change adversities.
In a digital age, the collaborative seeks to leverage state-of-the-art tools and methodologies to capacitate rural families and small-scale farmers to flourish amidst challenges. By fostering agricultural productivity, it also intends to lay the foundation for environmentally-friendly farming practices.
The combined endeavor of FAO, IsDB, and IFAD symbolizes a harmonious fusion of expertise and resources. By integrating next-gen technologies into farming, the partnership aspires to cultivate a sustainable, resilient food ecosystem, heralding prosperity for communities across the globe.
