Moderated Session: Main Challenges and Success Factors for

Sustainable Food Systems

Under this agenda ite, moderation session was held under the moderation of Mr. Fatih ÜNLÜ,

Senior Expert from COMCEC Coordination Office.

At the outset, Mr. Haroon LATIF , Consultant from the Dinarstandard made a short presentation

on the main challenges and success factors for sustainable food systems. Mr. Haroon, stated some

factors adversely affecting sustainable food systems. These are low level of agricultural and labor

productivity; lack of reliable and up-to-date data on food security;price fluctuations of food

products; limited/low level of intra trade for food products in the OIC region due to high tariff and

non-tariff barriers;adverse effects of climate change on agriculture and food systems (drought,

water scarcity) and poor risk management of natural disasters.

After the presentation, the participants had a lively discussion and the following possible

challenges and problems

in increasing the resilience of the food systems in the Member

Countries

are highlighted:

Low level of agricultural and labor productivity

Expensive input costs for plant and animal production

Small and fragmented land structure

Decrease in arable lands

Inefficient use of agricultural machinery and technologies

Weak market performance and challenges in access to market

Lack of reliable and up-to-date data on food security

Inadequate agricultural planning and strategy development

Political instabilities (i.e. forced movement of farming population, insufficient

institutionalization, etc.) in some parts of the OIC geography

Poor infrastructure and related services

Limited agro-industry investment

Poor legal and regulatory framework

Low priority accorded to the agricultural sector, particularly in the young population, in

most of the Member States

Rapid and uncontrolled urbanization

High subsidies and protective measures in the agricultural sectors of developed countries

Price fluctuations of food products

Limited/low level of intra trade for food products in the OIC region due to high tariff and

non-tariff barriers, non-compliance of food products to required food safety and quality

standards

Adverse effects of climate change on agriculture and food systems (drought, water

scarcity)

Poor risk management of natural disasters

Increasing risk of food adulteration and limited food defense systems in the OIC

geography

Insufficient international branding in food industry and agriculture in general

Insufficient veterinary services for animal husbandry and fisheries

Insufficient financing instruments in agriculture

Difficulties arising from different practices of land tenure system (i.e. women lack land

ownership, etc.) in some parts of the OIC region

Insufficient extension services