10/05/2024 Netherlands – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The Wageningen University & Research (WUR), Saskatchewan University, the Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh and European Union, gathered this week in the WUR Campus, to discuss the future of agriculture in Bangladesh.

A wide range of topics were discussed, such as agrifood systems transformation, sustainable development, boosting national productivity, improving supply chains, mechanization, training and capacity development.

Agrifood systems transformation and rural development are vital topics aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Agenda 2030. As such, FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) plays a catalyzing role, actively promoting and collaborating on Agrifood systems transformation and rural development.

The event counted the presence of the Honorable Minister of Agriculture of Bangladesh, H.E. Dr. Abdus Shahid, Member of Parliament, the Secretary of Ministry of Agriculture of Bangladesh, Ms Wahida Akhter, Government representatives from the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, along with other universities and FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST) representatives. Almost two hundred participants also joined online. 

From FAO’s SSTC delegation, Mr. Nafis Khan, Senior Programme Officer (PST), delivered a presentation on agriculture mechanization with a focus on SSTC to be adopted as a proven modality to ensure agrifood systems transformation, while citing examples from Africa and Asia.

 “As an important leader and promoter of South-South and triangular cooperation in global agriculture and food security, FAO is willing to further strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh, the World Bank, the Gates Foundation, WUR, and Saskatchewan University, and jointly address a broader range of agricultural development challenges and further amplify the SSTC impact." Mr. Anping Ye, Director of the South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division (PST), expressed in his closing remarks.

Mr Anping Ye and his H.E. Dr. Abdus Shahid, also met this week in WUR to discuss the way forward regarding the PARTNER project, of USD 543 million. A Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF) will likely be initiated by the government of Bangladesh to put forward the joint SSTC collaboration.