ANTALYA, TÜRKİYE, April 12. The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) hopes for Azerbaijan’s formalizing its membership in July 2025, Director General of IOFS, Ambassador Berik Aryn said in an exclusive interview with Trend on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF).
“We greatly value our partnership with the Republic of Azerbaijan. The recent visit of Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, to the IOFS Headquarters in Astana marked a significant milestone in our growing bilateral cooperation. On behalf of the organization, I expressed deep gratitude for Azerbaijan’s generous contribution to our humanitarian aid appeal for Gaza, which enabled the dispatch of the first wheat flour convoy on the first day of the ceasefire — a tangible symbol of Islamic solidarity,” he said.
Furthermore, Aryn noted that the collaboration with Azerbaijan extends into agricultural science and innovation.
“We are working closely with Azerbaijan’s Agricultural Research Center, and we commend the active involvement of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry in the IOFS Gene Bank and Wheat Development programs. These partnerships highlight Azerbaijan’s strong commitment to agricultural resilience and food security in the region.
Looking ahead, we are preparing for the 7th Session of the IOFS General Assembly, scheduled for July 2025 in Astana. We are hopeful that Azerbaijan will formalize its membership by signing the IOFS Statute during the Assembly, enabling it to fully participate in the governance and strategic direction of the organization,” noted the director general.
He went on to add that the core business of the IOFS is ensuring food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development in the geography of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
“The mission of IOFS is to safeguard sustainable food security in the OIC Member States through socio-economic development and systemic promotion of targeted programs related to agriculture, science and technology, humanitarian aid, trade, and food export to the Member States. At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, IOFS is advocating for multilateral cooperation to address the urgent challenges facing agrifood systems in OIC Member States,” noted Aryn.
The director general pointed out that within this specific context, IOFS has flagship mandates that are being implemented to materialize the priorities into programs and projects.
“I wish to refer to Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP) through which the IOFS has delivered humanitarian aid and agricultural support since 2022. The Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI), which was launched by the 49th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (Nouakchott, 2023), is serving as a comprehensive strategy to address food security, climate adaptation, and water management in Africa, particularly the Sahel region and North Africa. Additionally, it is important to note the relevant initiatives that stem from the IOFS Strategic Vision 2031,” he said.
Aryn noted that at the same time, IOFS is developing a Strategic Plan for Ensuring Food Security in OIC Member States (SPEFS-OIC).
“Currently in final drafting, following February 2025 virtual Regional Consultations chaired by Qatar in its capacity as Chair of the 9th Ministerial Conference of Food Security and Agricultural Development. Once adopted, this Document will be a critical and robust multilateral cooperation tool to address the urgent challenges facing agrifood systems in OIC Member States,” he said.
The IOFS director general noted that the foremost priority of the organization is to deepen coordination across OIC Member States through practical, scalable programs that support sustainable agricultural development.
“This involves expanding our knowledge-sharing platforms and promoting joint innovations in strategic crops such as wheat, rice, and cassava. We are also enhancing the IOFS Gene Bank initiative to safeguard agricultural biodiversity and support seed resilience across regions. Moreover, we aim to further mobilize financial and technical resources by fostering partnerships with development banks, UN agencies, and research institutions.
In our dealings with the Member States, we have found out there is limited integration of agricultural science in national development strategies. Despite commitments, many OIC Member States lack cohesive policies that prioritize scientific research in agriculture and food systems, resulting in weak uptake of innovations. This is why the 7th IOFS General Assembly to be held on 1-2 July in Astana will be considering the establishment of the IOFS Award to recognize the important and innovative work being done by different stakeholders in our Member States,” he explained.
Finally, Aryn noted that IOFS intends to address the challenging limited Youth and Women Engagement in Agri-Tech, as the potential of youth and women in contributing to food security innovation remains underutilized due to structural and educational barriers, particularly in the under privileged Member States.
“Accordingly, the 7thIOFS GA is to launch 2026 as the IOFS Year to promote Women Agrileaders & Youth Agripreneurs (WAYA).
The IOFS remains focused on transitioning from reactive to preventive strategies to address food security through long-term resilience and sustainability,” he concluded.