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ISLAMABAD, Nov 26 (APP):A two-day international workshop on food security titled “Advancing Knowledge and Innovation for Sustainable Food Security Systems” concluded successfully in Mogadishu, Somalia on Wednesday.
The workshop was organised by OIC-COMSTECH under the COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER), in collaboration with Benadir University and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS).
Experts, policymakers, researchers and agricultural professionals from Somalia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Jordan, Tunisia and Sweden participated both physically and online.
Addressing the inaugural session, OIC-COMSTECH Coordinator General Prof Dr M. Iqbal Choudhary stressed the urgent need for regional cooperation, scientific innovation and capacity building to tackle food insecurity in the face of climate change.
He highlighted the importance of sustainable agricultural practices and knowledge-sharing among OIC member states.
The opening ceremony was also attended by Somalia’s Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation, senior government officials, members of parliament, former ministers and representatives of academic and agricultural institutions.
During the workshop, participants discussed the major challenges facing Africa’s food systems, including climate vulnerability, water scarcity, land degradation and economic pressures. Special focus was placed on Somalia’s agricultural constraints and the need for climate-resilient planning.
Technical sessions highlighted emerging solutions such as biotechnology, genomic editing and climate-smart agriculture.
The discussions also focused on strengthening local food systems, improving farmers’ resilience to climate variability and promoting research-led innovation.
A key feature of the event was a panel discussion on “The Future of Food Security in Africa: Innovation, Integration and Resilience,” where experts emphasized policy reforms, youth engagement, improved livestock services, market access and technology adoption for smallholder farmers.
The workshop concluded with a closing ceremony and distribution of certificates.
The organisers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening sustainable and resilient food systems in Somalia and other OIC member countries through continued cooperation and scientific exchange.