DHAKA, July 6, 2022 (BSS) - Speakers at a high-level virtual event today emphasized on exchanging best practices and expertise about the digital revolution of agriculture supply chain management in order to secure global food security in the new normal. 

A sustainable agricultural ecosystem can harness greater benefits for food and other industries with the participation of public-private organizations, they said.

The speakers made these remarks at a side event of the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) 2022, which brought governments, development partners, UN entities and the private sector together to share their expertise and practices.

The Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations, the Bangladesh government, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Senegal to the United Nations, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and South-South Network for Public Service Innovation (SSN4PSI) organized this year's side event in association with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Commonwealth Secretariat, Global Innovation Fund, Agro Supply Limited, Bayer Crop-science Limited, and Public Digital.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary (Senior Secretary) Masud Bin Momen delivered welcome address at the virtual event while Policy Advisor of a2i, and Advisor of South-South Network for Public Service Innovation (SSN4PSI) presented the keynote paper on the future preparation of an integrated agriculture supply chain for resilient food security. 

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Senegal to the United Nations Cheikh Niang delivered the closing remarks while United Nations Office for South South Cooperation (UNOSSC) Deputy Director for Programme and Operations Xiaojun Grace Wang also spoke at the function. 

Masud Bin Momen said, "Agriculture is an economic pillar for many of our countries, without doubt. The impact of the pandemic has both been enforced and imposed on us to adopt a more digital approach to life and living". 

So, there is no alternative to developing a strong supply chain connecting rural and marginal farming units into the global market to utilize their resources fully to contribute more to mitigating global hunger, he added.

Noting that Bangladesh has had unprecedented success in the last decade in agriculture research, food engineering, cultivation, climate adversity, and sustainable farming, Masud said the country witnessed many economic activities that took place digitally.
 
"Now, we are thinking of bringing these new ideas of efficient production processes to farmers, buyers, suppliers, and the whole supply chain, especially during the pandemic, which is continuing its services. 

Therefore, it's a time of sharing experience and expertise with the rest of the world to ensure global food security," he added. 

In his keynote paper, Anir Chowdhury highlighted Bangladesh's traceability initiative for food and other industries in the Covid-19 period and put importance on developing a food data system using crowd sourcing, satellite data, and various digital data systems for agriculture supply chain management to ensure food security in the new normal.
 
He also underscored collaboration in value chain actors and added that institutional transformation is absolutely paramount in the Covid-19 period and makes some of the essential initiatives sustainable for greater benefit across the globe.

Cheikh Niang and Xiaojun Grace Wang, in their remarks, emphasized on the importance of deploying a coordinated communication system in agriculture supply chain management to ensure global food security in the post-pandemic period.

At the side event, a panel discussion was also held on the 'Digital Transformation of Agriculture Supply Chain Management to Ensure Food Security in the New Normal', where the panelists shared the best practices of their own countries and exchanged views on how they utilized knowledge and tools for mutual benefit.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen moderated the panel discussion.

 Additional Secretary (Planning and Development Wing) of Information and Communication Technology Division of Bangladesh Dr Khandoker Azizul Islam, Executive Director of Uganda's Agro Supply Limited Joseph Ogwal, Director of Public Affairs, Science and Sustainability, South Asia of Bayers Cropscience Limited Rajvir Rathi, Managing Director of Global Innovation Fund Avinash Mishra,

Representative in Bangladesh of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Robert D. Simpson and Adviser of Agriculture and Fisheries Trade Policy, Commonwealth Secretariat Dr Benjamin Kwasi Addom took part in the event as discussants.

Among others, representatives of the UN Member States, international organizations, the private sector, academia, major groups, and other stakeholders participated in the webinar.