High-Level Conference on Food industry and food security
Economic Development and Employment
22 and 23 October 2023 , Cairo, Egypt – The Union for the Mediterranean, supported by the German Development Cooperation, will partner with the League of Arab States for the organization of a High-Level Conference on Food industry for a sustainable food security under the title “Towards more resilient regional supply chains and a more sustainable food industry” taking place in Cairo on 22nd and 23rd of October 2023.
The topic of food security, which has always been high on the agenda of both Governments and International Organizations, has become even more pressing following the disruptions in food value chains caused by the pandemic crisis, the geopolitical situation and climate change. This has aggravated the volatility of food prices and the risks of food insecurity affecting the most vulnerable the hardest.
In this context, the UfM Co-presidency Joint Statement adopted at the UfM Regional Forum held on 24th November 2022 called for ‘’new arrangements for the production and supply of basic food products’’ while the Final Declaration of the 31st Arab Summit held in Algiers in November 2022 emphasized ‘’the need to join efforts to consolidate the collective Arab capacities to address common challenges, including food security’’.
After a field visit on 22nd October 2023 to a benchmark company to receive first-hand information on the challenges and opportunity of food industry in the region, this important event will bring together on 23rd October 2023 high-level speakers to shed light on relevant topics according to the following axes:
- Current state of the food industry within the region: This includes an examination of the demand and supply dynamics, support mechanisms for the food industry, challenges faced such as food trade restrictions, and other key factors impacting the sector.
- Strategies to enhance the resilience of the food industry: The discussions will focus on bolstering the industry’s ability to withstand and adapt to challenges, including climate change resilience and food system productivity, improving employability and labor productivity, strengthening local supply chains, diversifying external suppliers, and addressing trade policies governing food trade.
- Pathways to foster sustainability in the food industry: Best practices and initiatives that promote sustainability and resource efficiency will be showcased, with particular attention to fostering decent jobs in agriculture and aquaculture, empowering women in the food sector, and implementing measures to promote environmental sustainability within the industry.
The UfM will sponsor the participation of up to 60 people from eligible countries (Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morrocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Türkiye) based on their profile and the principle of first come first served.
Only selected people will be contacted, while those who would like to participate at their own cost are most welcome and kindly requested to reach out to the organizers (economicdevelopment@ufmsecretariat.org) for confirmation.
