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UAE Country Council – World Agriculture Forum
First Meeting | Dubai | November 18, 2025
The World Agriculture Forum convened the inaugural meeting of the UAE Country Council in Dubai, bringing together a distinguished group of leaders, including Ms. Haifa Al Kaylani (Chair), Eng. Nabil Bin Haider (Vice Chair), Mr. Rakesh K. Chitkara (Country Director), senior executives from the UAE’s agri-food, logistics, investment and innovation sectors, and Dr. M.J. Khan, Special Advisor to the WAF Board.
The Council endorsed a unified vision to integrate production, processing, logistics, finance, technology and policy into a single regional platform that accelerates agricultural advancement across the UAE and beyond.
To drive the 2026 action agenda, five specialised member-led sub-groups were established, focusing on climate-smart agriculture, trade and logistics, digital agriculture, innovation and investment, and stakeholder engagement.
The Council further reaffirmed its alignment with the UAE Food Security Strategy 2051 and the country’s broader sustainability and innovation priorities. This marks a purposeful beginning for WAF UAE in shaping a resilient, future-ready and innovation-driven agri-food ecosystem for the region.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) marked a key milestone during the UNGA and Climate Week in New York with the signing of an MoU with the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security (GFIFS), a pioneering effort launched at COP16 in 2024.
The agreement, signed by GFIFS Co-Chairs Stefan Schmitz (Executive Director, Crop Trust) and Nasser Alkahtani (Executive Director, AgFund), along with Dr. M.J. Khan, Special Advisor to the WAF Board, reinforces a shared mission to advance food security, conserve crop diversity, and promote sustainable agricultural growth in Africa and beyond.
WAF looks forward to working with Dr. Conrad Rein and his team to translate this partnership into action, building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems worldwide.
Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security
Bonn, May 2025 — The Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security, launched during COP16 in Riyadh in 2024, marks a transformative $10 billion commitment to addressing hunger, poverty, and land degradation across Africa’s IGAD and Sahel regions. This landmark five-year initiative brings together a broad coalition of global development partners to build resilient, sustainable, and inclusive food systems for millions. Led by major financial and development institutions—Saudi Fund for Development, Arab-Gulf Fund, BADEA, IsDB, OPEC Fund, and the Crop Trust—the initiative is also backed by more than 30 international organizations and country-level partners, including ICFA (India), UNCCD, the European Union, the United Nations, and the World Agriculture Forum. Dr. MJ Khan, representing the World Agriculture Forum joined the first strategic coordination meeting in Bonn on May 12–13, 2025. The meet was joined by the key stakeholders from around the world to define a shared roadmap, align resources, and catalyze innovative solutions to one of the most urgent global challenges: food security in the face of climate change.
Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainable Livestock Growth
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) team met with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi to advance sustainable livestock sector growth. Discussions focused on research partnerships, livestock’s role in food systems, and global policy support. ILRI’s Dr. A. Djikeng and WAF’s Dr. MJ Khan formalized a strategic MoU for deeper collaboration. The team also met with the Kenya Livestock and Research Organization to align efforts for sectoral growth.
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) continues its global engagement with key stakeholders to drive the climate agenda and sustainability. On February 20, WAF held a meeting in Dubai with the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) at its campus and signed a strategic partnership MoU. This collaboration aims to mobilize global expertise and resources to address pressing agricultural challenges, particularly in climate resilience and sustainable farming. The MoU was signed by Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the WAF Board, and Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA.
WAF Board Member Ameenah Gurib-Fakim Shares Strategic Vision for Global Agricultural Transformation Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim led a discussion with COO Ramona Angelescu Naqvi, Special Advisor Dr. M.J. Khan, and Communications Director Michelle Dennis on aligning WAF’s mission with sustainable agriculture while balancing for-profit and non-profit models. They emphasized expanding cross-sector collaboration, strengthening private sector involvement, and engaging farmers’ organizations. Key topics included partnerships with the World Bank and G20, regional hubs in Southeast Asia and Africa, and a rotating flagship event in cities like Vietnam and Indonesia. Ameenah stressed the need for global co-chairs from countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Egypt, with final plans for WAF’s strategy and partnerships set for the next board meeting.
Strengthening Global Partnerships for a Sustainable Agricultural Future! During COP16 in Riyadh, the World Agriculture Forum’s Special Advisor to the Board, Dr MJ Khan engaged in a significant dialogue with H.E. Mr. Fareed Alasaly, Deputy Governor of Saudi Arabia, to discuss Saudi Arabia's potential onboarding to WAF. Joined by senior officials from the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Alasaly explored the scope of engagement and expressed Saudi Arabia's strong interest in partnering with WAF. This marks an important step toward fostering international cooperation and shared innovation in agriculture.
World Agriculture Forum Holds Key Stakeholder Consultation in Dubai. As part of its global consultation series the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) organized a key discussion session on December 10, 2024 in Dubai. The event was hosted by the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) and brought together key stakeholders to address some of the most pressing challenges in agriculture. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to WAF Board, and Dr. Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of ICBA and a WAF Board Member. The session saw active participation from 25 WAF Global Council Members and additional invitees, underscoring the importance of collective engagement and insight from global leaders in agriculture.
World Agriculture Forum Delegation Visits ICARDA Headquarters and Explores Investment Opportunities in Doha
An eight-member delegation of the World Agriculture Forum (WAF) was warmly received by the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) at its headquarters in Cairo. Dr. Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, welcomed the delegation and gave a comprehensive presentation on ICARDA’s global research priorities. He emphasized the organization’s commitment to empowering smallholder farmers through innovations in legumes and pulses, small ruminant production, and climate-resilient agriculture.
ICARDA expressed strong interest in collaborating with WAF on policy advocacy, government engagement, and smallholder empowerment initiatives, particularly through public–private partnerships under the World Agriculture Forum framework. Continuing their regional engagements, the WAF delegation met with the Investment Promotion Agency of Qatar in Doha to discuss investment opportunities in the food and agriculture sector and explore prospects for strategic collaboration with WAF.
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF), Netherlands and the International Fertiliser Development Centre (IFDC), USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 28, 2024. This Collaboration aims to address policy issues, implement farmers' awareness programs, and develop partnerships that promote soil health and plant nutrition globally, with a special emphasis on Asia and Africa.
In October 2024, the World Agriculture Forum delegation held discussions in Rome with FAO, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Italian Ministry of Agricultural, Food, and Forestry Policies to deepen its cross-sectoral partnership strategy.
Global Council members, business and philanthropic representatives and WAF's Leadership convened in Amsterdam, at the Royal Institute of Tropics which also hosts the WAF Secretariat to shape the organization's niche and agenda, in line with top priorities for sustainable agriculture and food systems. The meeting was chaired by Prof Rudy Rabbinge, Chair of the WAF Board.
World Agriculture Forum contributed to the discussion on food safety, nutrition, regulation, labeling, and civic monitoring and engagement at the Asia and Pacific regional workshop held at FAO during the World Food Forum with a presentation by Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF
The World Agriculture Forum and the African-Asian Rural Development Organization (AARDO) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 24, 2024, in New Delhi to strengthen collaboration on agricultural and rural development initiatives, across Asian and African countries. The MoU was signed by the Secretary General AARDO, H.E. Dr. Manoj Nardeosingh and Ms. Leena Jacob, International Programs Director, WAF, joined by Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF India Country Director, along with other Council Members of WAF.
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) hosted a high-level consultation with the Brazilian delegation on November 27, 2024, in New Delhi. The delegation was led by the esteemed Vice Governor of Rio Grande do Sul, His Excellency Gabriel Souza, and included other prominent experts, Parliamentarians, and leading business CEOs. The meeting provided a dynamic platform for exchanging ideas on strengthening global agricultural cooperation, advancing sustainable practices, and exploring opportunities for mutual growth in agricultural trade and innovation.
On November 22, the World Agriculture Forum (WAF), in collaboration with FAO Philippines, convened a high-level stakeholder Consultation Meeting, this time in Manila at the Bureau of Soil and Water Management, Department of Agriculture. This impactful event was led by Dr. William Dar, former Secretary of Agriculture, Philippines and Dr. Lionel Dabbadie, FAO Representative and Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to WAF Chair. The meeting was joined by more than 40 senior executives from the agro-food industry, as well as senior officials from the Government, financial institutions and development organizations.
The World Agriculture Forum (WAF) Stakeholders Consultation Meeting, hosted by Grains International, was successfully held on November 20 at the esteemed National University of Singapore (NUS). This high-impact gathering brought together leaders and experts from across the agricultural spectrum, including prominent organizations such as Corteva, FMC, Bayer CropScience, Syngenta, Cargill, Olam International, and esteemed NUS scientists and officials among others.
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF was received at the breakfast by the Group of Agriculture counsellors of 20 countries in New Delhi to address them on policy and trade issues
Meeting with the Vice Governor of Iowa State in US, His Excellency Mr Adam Gregg at his office in Des Moines. We shared views on digital technologies defining agriculture and driving the precision agriculture
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF, represented the World Agriculture Forum at the consultation meet held at the FAO Headquarters for Asia Pacific in Bangkok. The meeting brought together prominent stakeholders in agriculture, including leaders from academia, research institutions, and the industry leaders, to address pressing challenges and opportunities in the sector. This event is part of WAF’s ongoing global consultation series aimed at fostering collaboration and innovation in agriculture.
The 2nd World Agriculture Prize 2024 was presented to Shri Eknath Shinde, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, India during the “Norman Borlaug Global Dialogue on Climate Change and Food Security held on September 18, 2024, in Mumbai, India. This prestigious award, established in 2018, recognizes exceptional achievements in agriculture that significantly impact food security, climate resilience, and rural development. The award highlights pioneering efforts in the agriculture sector to address global challenges.
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF joined the world leaders meeting in Hangzhou, China to discuss global issues in agriculture.
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF, discussions with the World Farmers Organisation in Rome on the farmers issues and agenda, especially the challenges that African and Asian farmers face, and the policy support and technology tools available to empower them
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF, visited Michigan State University in US to address the faculty and students of business management. He highlighted the need for reorienting the scope of business management education to include farm production and marketing for profitable and sustainable agriculture
Dr. MJ Khan, Special Advisor to the Board, WAF, joined the World Agri Food Innovations Summit in Beijing on Oct 11, and addressed on the subject of agri supply chain management in context of Asian countries
Meeting with Prof. Dongyu QU the Vice Minister Agriculture of China, now Director General, FAO
21 July, 2025
Adding Value & Sharing Income Along the Value Chain
05 July, 2025
Digitalization And AI Applications in Agriculture: Driving Efficiency and Productivity
05 July, 2025
Finance and Investments for Disruptive and Accelerated Agri-Food Systems Transformation
07 Jan, 2025
Strengthening Private Sector Partnerships
06 Dec, 2024
Collaboration and Advancing Strategies
06 Dec, 2024
Presentation of the 2nd World Agriculture Prize 2024
27 Nov, 2024
1st Consultation Meeting of the World Agriculture Forum
06 Dec, 2024
CEOs Roundtable On Fertilizer Sector
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