Jordan, FAO sign agreement to launch regional food security observatory

AMMAN — Minister of Agriculture and Chairman of the Food Security Council Khaled Huneifat on Sunday signed an agreement with FAO Representative in Jordan Nabil Assaf to establish a Regional Food Security Observatory for the Mashriq region, Near East, and North Africa (NENA).

The initiative, which will involve the Food Security Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Department of Statistics, aligns with directives from His Majesty King Abdullah and follows discussions held among ministers from the Mashriq region during their 2022 meeting in Amman, as well as the FAO’s 2024 Near East Regional Conference.

Huneifat emphasised that the observatory will be a crucial tool in addressing food security challenges, offering both analytical and predictive insights for policymakers, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

By utilising economic modelling, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, the observatory will integrate with both international and regional platforms to enhance cooperation and promote sustainable food security.

The observatory aims to bolster food security and nutrition across Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. It will provide regular reports, monitor key indicators, issue early warnings, and develop a comprehensive regional information system that integrates both local and global data to support informed decision-making.