JAKARTA – The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s 57 member states have launched an unprecedented coordinated effort to address food insecurity through massive financial commitments totaling billions of dollars. This comprehensive initiative seeks to transform agricultural capabilities across nations representing over 1.9 billion people, establishing sustainable food systems that can withstand global economic pressures and climate challenges.

Critical Food Security Landscape

Food insecurity presents a formidable challenge across the Islamic world, with 26 OIC countries designated as Low-Income Food Deficit Countries by the Food and Agriculture Organization. An additional 22 nations currently depend on external food assistance, highlighting the severity of nutritional challenges facing the region.

Recent data reveals that approximately 203 million individuals across OIC territories experienced undernourishment in 2024, a situation aggravated by various factors including regional conflicts, climate-related disruptions, and lingering economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict. The 2025 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report indicates that global hunger affected between 638 to 720 million people in 2024, with particularly concerning trends in Sub-Saharan Africa and Western Asia.

However, these statistics contrast with the region’s substantial agricultural potential. Agriculture contributes 10.4% to OIC nations’ collective GDP, significantly exceeding the global average of 4.3%. Agricultural export values have grown from USD 141.7 billion in 2011 to USD 188.1 billion in 2021, while intra-OIC trade expanded by 85% during the same period, demonstrating the foundation for sustainable food system transformation.

National Investment Strategies and Implementation

Saudi Kingdom’s Agricultural Transformation

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 framework has catalyzed substantial agricultural investments aimed at reducing import dependency, which reached USD 292.9 billion across OIC nations in 2021. The Kingdom’s Agricultural Development Fund allocated USD 400 million in June 2023 to support small-scale producers focusing on vegetables, aquaculture, and poultry production.

Strategic partnerships have enhanced food processing capabilities, notably through the Halal Products Development Company’s collaboration with Brazilian processor BRF, facilitated by the Public Investment Fund. The Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company’s acquisition of a 10.7% stake in BRF demonstrates commitment to securing halal protein supply chains.

These investments have achieved remarkable self-sufficiency milestones in dates, dairy products, and eggs, with surplus production now targeting regional export markets, contributing to broader OIC food security objectives.

UAE’s Technology-Forward Food Strategy

The United Arab Emirates has pioneered innovative agricultural approaches through hydroponics and vertical farming technologies. The National Food Security Strategy 2018–2023 achieved near-complete self-sufficiency in essential food categories including poultry and dates by 2023.

The 2024 strategic update emphasizes sustainability and technological innovation, committing USD 10 billion to the food and agriculture sector by 2028 while creating 20,000 employment opportunities. The Emirates Development Bank’s Agtech loan programs support emerging companies and small-to-medium enterprises, fostering a dynamic food technology ecosystem.

Qatar’s Self-Reliance Achievements

Qatar’s National Food Security Strategy implementation has delivered exceptional results, achieving 46% vegetable self-sufficiency, complete poultry independence, 70% date production adequacy, and 75% fish supply security by 2023. The updated 2024 strategy emphasizes digital agricultural advisory services, climate-resistant crop varieties, and diversified trade relationships.

Investment in greenhouse cultivation and aquaculture systems provides a replicable model for nations with limited arable land seeking food security improvements despite geographic constraints.

Kazakhstan’s Grain Supply Leadership

Kazakhstan’s position as a major wheat exporter, supplying approximately nine million tonnes annually, establishes it as a crucial contributor to regional food security. The nation’s leadership role in establishing the Islamic Organization for Food Security demonstrates commitment to multilateral cooperation approaches.

Modernization investments in irrigation infrastructure and advanced seed technologies are enhancing agricultural productivity, positioning Kazakhstan as a reliable supplier to regional markets while supporting broader OIC food security goals.

Malaysia’s Sustainable Agriculture Framework

Malaysia’s National Agrofood Policy 2.0 (2021–2030) allocates USD 650 million toward developing a sustainable, technology-enhanced agricultural sector. The policy promotes agroecological practices and organic farming methods, improving food production while maintaining safety and quality standards.

The nation’s 41st position on the 2022 Global Food Security Index reflects steady advancement, with continued plans to integrate technological solutions and expand export capabilities supporting regional food system resilience.

Emerging Trends in Regional Food Security

Climate Adaptation Strategies

Climate change presents significant threats to agricultural productivity across OIC nations, particularly in arid regions of West Asia and Northeast Africa where water scarcity and extreme weather events challenge traditional farming methods. The Islamic Organization for Food Security’s participation in the 2025 UNFCC Subsidiary Bodies session in Bonn, Germany, emphasized the necessity for climate-resilient food system development.

The Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, launched at UNCCD COP 16, focuses on scalable, inclusive solutions for dryland agriculture, with OIC countries providing leadership in implementing adaptive farming techniques and water conservation technologies.

Agricultural Technology Revolution

Investment in agricultural technology has reached unprecedented levels, with OIC nations adopting drone surveillance, automated machinery, and precision farming techniques to optimize crop yields. Blockchain and Internet of Things technologies ensure supply chain transparency, particularly crucial for halal food export markets.

Saudi Arabia’s desalination projects and greenhouse farming innovations address water scarcity challenges, while the UAE’s vertical farming initiatives reduce land use requirements, demonstrating technological solutions to resource constraints.

Regional Cooperation Enhancement

The OIC is strengthening intra-regional trade relationships and cooperation frameworks to reduce import dependency on external markets. The proposed Dakar-to-Port Sudan transportation corridor aims to streamline food distribution across African member states, improving market access and reducing distribution costs.

The Ninth Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development in Doha, October 2023, adopted strategic plans to mobilize resources and align national policies, with Qatar, Palestine, Iran, and Senegal providing leadership in implementation efforts.

Private Sector Integration

Private sector participation has become essential to achieving food security objectives, with companies like Al-Mukarramah partnering with the Islamic Organization for Food Security to drive innovation initiatives. Multinational corporations including Nestlé and JBS are establishing regional operations to access growing halal food markets, while startup companies secure funding to scale sustainable agricultural solutions.

Implementation Challenges and Barriers

Conflict and Political Instability

Regional conflicts significantly impact food security across several member nations, with Syria, Yemen, and Sudan ranking poorly on the Global Food Security Index due to ongoing political instability that disrupts agricultural production and distribution systems. Sudan’s deteriorating food security situation, highlighted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres in 2025, demonstrates the urgent need for humanitarian assistance and conflict resolution efforts.

Standards and Certification Issues

The absence of unified halal certification standards complicates international trade relationships and market access. While agreements between Indonesia, UAE, Turkey, and Malaysia aim to harmonize certification processes, broader regional adoption remains necessary for optimal trade facilitation.

Infrastructure Development Needs

Inadequate transportation and storage infrastructure results in substantial food waste, with over one-third of perishable products lost in African OIC countries. Strategic investments in cold chain logistics and storage facilities are essential to address these systematic inefficiencies.

Climate Vulnerability Concerns

Drought conditions and extreme weather events threaten agricultural productivity, particularly across Sub-Saharan Africa and arid regions. Expanding climate-smart agriculture practices is fundamental to building long-term agricultural resilience and food system stability.

Market Opportunities and Stakeholder Benefits

Business Development Prospects

The expanding halal food market, projected to reach USD 5.96 trillion globally by 2033, presents significant opportunities for manufacturers and export-oriented businesses. E-commerce platforms and mobile applications are expanding market reach capabilities, while sustainable production practices attract environmentally conscious consumer segments.

Investment Potential

Sovereign wealth funds and private investors can capitalize on regional emphasis on food technology and sustainable agriculture development. Startup companies in vertical farming, precision agriculture, and halal logistics are securing substantial funding rounds, offering attractive return potential for strategic investors.

Consumer Benefits

Increased domestic food production translates to more affordable, higher-quality food options for regional consumers. The focus on nutrition-smart agriculture, exemplified by Honduras’s World Bank-funded projects, improves dietary diversity particularly for vulnerable population segments.

Policy Development Opportunities

Aligning national strategies with OIC objectives can enhance regional cooperation while attracting international development funding. The World Bank’s USD 766 million West Africa Food Systems Resilience Program, with additional USD 345 million allocated for Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo, demonstrates the potential for multilateral financial support.

Strategic Path Forward

The OIC’s multi-billion dollar food security investments represent a fundamental transformation toward self-reliance and agricultural sustainability. Through technological innovation adoption, intra-regional trade enhancement, and climate challenge mitigation, member nations are constructing resilient food systems capable of supporting long-term population needs.

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger by 2030 requires continued efforts to resolve regional conflicts, standardize certification processes, and scale infrastructure investments across member states. The Islamic Organization for Food Security’s strategic mandates, endorsed at the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in 2025, emphasize science-based policy development and regional cooperation as fundamental implementation principles.

Conclusion

The comprehensive food security initiative undertaken by OIC nations presents exceptional opportunities for diverse stakeholders to engage in a dynamic, high-growth sector with substantial social impact potential. Business organizations can drive innovation, investors can fund scalable solutions, and consumers benefit from increased availability of diverse, sustainable food options.

As the OIC mobilizes billions of dollars to address hunger and food insecurity, the international community observes a region positioning itself at the forefront of global food security leadership and agricultural innovation. This coordinated effort demonstrates how multilateral cooperation, strategic investment, and technological innovation can address fundamental human needs while building sustainable economic foundations for future generations.

Original Article:

Halal Times. (2025, September 1). OIC Nations Rally Billions for Food Security Investments. Retrieved from https://www.halaltimes.com/oic-nations-rally-billions-for-food-security-investments/