Gulf agriculture and food security officials meeting in Bahrain commended Saudi Arabia for its part in developing the GCC Food Security Strategy, during the 38th Meeting of the GCC Committee for Agricultural Cooperation and Food Security. The Saudi delegation was led by General Food Security Authority President Eng. Ahmad Alfares.

The committee reviewed progress on implementing the strategy as part of efforts to deepen coordination among member states and build a more resilient regional food security system able to keep agricultural and food supply chains stable.

Members also praised the Kingdom for preparing a comprehensive framework for a regional plant genetic resources bank and for its work on early-warning mechanisms to monitor and analyze food supply chain indicators.

The agenda covered agriculture, livestock, fisheries and food security across the Gulf. Officials reviewed a report on a consultancy project, conducted with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), on modern technologies and artificial intelligence in farm management and agricultural productivity in the Gulf states.

The committee followed up on decisions of its 34th meeting, reviewed implementation of resolutions from its 37th meeting, and approved several unified regulations, laws and implementing rules.

The Kingdom said its participation reflects its drive for an integrated Gulf food security framework and closer coordination as regional and global developments affect agricultural production and food supply chains. At the close, Saudi Arabia announced it will host and chair the 39th meeting, and it thanked Bahrain for hosting and for its efforts to make the meeting a success.