Private Sector Dialogue on Agrifood Transformation and Climate Resilience
14 April 2026 @10:30 – 14:50 Cairo Time.
Virtual Event, 14/04/2026
The Food and Agriculture Organization recognizes that the private sector is indispensable in accelerating agrifood systems transformation toward sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity in the Near East region. The region faces pressing challenges - climate change, water scarcity, land degradation, and socio‑economic disparities - that demand innovative and scalable solutions. Private enterprises, from small businesses to multinational firms, bring critical resources, technology, and expertise to the table. Collaborative initiatives between governments, international organizations, and private actors can unlock transformative pathways that foster innovation, strengthen supply chains, and promote climate‑friendly agriculture.
Recognizing the importance of the private sector, FAO has launched its new Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026–2030. This strategy aims to deepen collaboration, align private investment with public priorities, and ensure that agrifood transformation leaves no one behind. Building on the outcomes of previous private sector dialogues, which underscored the importance of innovation, technology, responsible marketing, long‑term capacity building, and raising awareness on food loss and waste reduction through corporate social responsibility programs, this dialogue seeks to advance shared solutions and strengthen partnership towards collective impact.
In preparation for the Ministerial segment of the Thirty‑Eighth Near East Regional Conference (NERC 38), to be held in Rome – Italy under the chairmanship of United Arab Emirates on the 20th of April 2026, FAO is convening an interactive dialogue “Private Sector Dialogue: Agrifood Transformation & Climate Resilience in the Near East” to provide a collaborative platform for knowledge‑sharing and collective action toward a more sustainable and resilient future for the region’s agrifood systems.
This dialogue is co-organized in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
Objective:
The objective of this dialogue is to consolidate insights from the four thematic panels on mitigating and adapting to climate, water scarcity, and instability in the Near East region; unlocking agriculture’s transformative potential; strengthening agrifood supply chains; and valorizing byproducts through circular innovation, into a unified vision for private sector engagement. It seeks to highlight how innovation, investment, and partnerships can accelerate agrifood systems transformation in the region, advancing climate resilience, inclusivity, sustainable trade, and resource efficiency, while positioning the private sector as a key partner in building inclusive and resilient food systems.
PROVISIONAL AGENDA
| Time /duration | Session description |
|---|---|
| 10:30-10:50 (20min) | Opening Remarks Welcoming note |
| 10:50 -11:05 (15 min) | Overview of Near East Region and FAO’s strategic framework (Regional Priorities and the Four Betters) |
| 11:05 -11:20 (15 min) | Introduction of the new FAO Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026–2030 |
| 11:20 - 11:35 (15 minutes) | Keynote on the Importance of Private Sector Engagement in Agrifood Systems Transformation |
| 11:35 - 12:15 (40 mins: 25 min panel discussions followed by 15 min Q&A) | Panel Discussion #1: “Strengthening Agrifood Supply Chains in the Near East and North Africa” |
| 12:15 - 12:30 (15 min) | Break |
| 12:30 - 13:10 (40 mins: 25 min panel discussions followed by 15 min Q&A) | Panel Discussion #2: “Combating Desertification and Drought: Climate‑Resilient Agriculture and Private Sector Innovation.” |
| 13:10 – 13:50 (40 mins: 25 min panel followed by 15 min Q&A) | Panel Discussion #3: “Valorizing Agrifood By‑Products and Tackling Food Waste: Bioeconomy and Circular Innovation Pathways.” |
| 13:50 - 14:30 (40 mins: 25 min panel followed by 15 min Q&A) | Panel Discussion #4: “Unlocking Agriculture’s Transformative Potential: Private Sector Roles in Crisis, Recovery, and Development.” |
| 14:30 - 14:50 (10 min recommendations, 10 min closing) | Summary of Key Insights and Recommendations Closing Remarks |