SESRIC convened its Seventh Technical Review Meeting on July 14, 2023, at the SESRIC's headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye. The purpose of this meeting was to present and discuss the findings of SESRIC's latest research report, titled "Agriculture and Food Security in OIC Member Countries 2023: Enhancing Resilience of Agricultural and Food Systems." The report, which highlights the challenges faced by OIC countries, will be published and submitted to the 9^th Conference of Environment Ministers in the Islamic World scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar, in October 2023.

The esteemed director general of SESRIC, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK, graced the meeting with her presence, alongside directors and experts from SESRIC's Statistics, Research, Training, and Publication Departments. The primary aim of the meeting was to amplify the value and enrich the insights offered by the Centre's reports on the agriculture sector and the food security challenges confronting OIC countries. Dr. Fahman FATHURRAHMAN, a distinguished researcher from the Economic and Social Research Department, took the floor and delivered a comprehensive presentation, unveiling the pivotal findings of the report.

In his presentation, Dr. FATHURRAHMAN shed light on the obstacles that OIC countries encounter in achieving sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security for their populations. The report offers a comprehensive overview of the current state of agriculture, identifies the main drivers of food security trends, and provides valuable policy recommendations to enhance resilience in agricultural and food systems. He highlighted the changing dynamics of employment preferences and labor force participation in OIC countries, emphasizing the significant shift away from the agriculture sector. Moreover, he emphasized that food security remains a persistent challenge for many OIC countries, exacerbated by the wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating food prices, and geopolitical instability. In the final part of his presentation, he discussed the critical importance of good governance, improved access to finance, and increased investment in research and extension services. Additionally, he underscored the significance of sustainable rural development in strengthening agricultural and food systems.

The meeting concluded with an interactive discussion, allowing participants to share their comments and suggestions. Overall, the participants recommended aligning the narrative with global and OIC-level efforts, while enhancing the visual presentation of data and graphs. This meeting served as a valuable platform for SESRIC staff members to gain a comprehensive understanding of the methodology, structure, scope, and outcomes of the Centre's research reports. Furthermore, it fostered a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing among participants through open dialogue and the invitation of feedback and comments.

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