Amman, May 7 (Petra) -- Minister of Agriculture Saeb Khraisat participated in a high-level ministerial meeting of the MED9 Group, held remotely with foreign ministers from member states, representatives of the European Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and other international and regional organizations.
The event took place amid ongoing geopolitical developments and their impact on global supply chains, particularly in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz, which have "intensified" challenges related to food security and availability of agricultural inputs, especially fertilizers.
Talking at the virtual meeting, Khraisat said food security is "no longer a sectoral issue but a core pillar of regional security and stability, given the close interlinkage between food, energy, and climate change." He noted recent regional crises have exposed vulnerabilities in food systems, while underscoring the need to build more resilient structures.
He added that Jordan has "maintained a relatively advanced level" of food security, with agricultural self-sufficiency reaching around 62 percent.
The agricultural sector also recorded 7.4 percent growth in 2025, alongside the maintenance of strategic food reserves sufficient for 10 to 11 months, he pointed out.
The minister stated addressing these challenges requires collective action based on partnership and coordination to strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable food security in the region.
On key priorities, he said the list features ensuring uninterrupted flows of essential commodities and agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers, which are affected by fluctuations in energy and shipping costs.
He also called for diversifying supply routes and developing alternative transport corridors.
Khraisat noted the importance of supporting food-importing countries, mainly in the Middle East and Africa, by diversifying import sources, boosting production, improving supply chain efficiency, and strengthening market monitoring and early warning systems.
On required action, he underlined the need for MED9-related initiatives, including the MED9++ platform, to adopt clear implementation mechanisms covering policy coordination, information sharing, and financial and technical support for most affected countries.
He further called for activating international funding mechanisms, including climate funds, to support vulnerable countries and enhance their capacity to respond to food security and climate-related challenges.
Khraisat stressed the importance of investing in logistics infrastructure and strengthening the role of transit countries in stabilizing regional supply chains and ensuring food supply security.
Concluding his remarks, he reiterated Jordan’s commitment to strengthening regional and international cooperation to develop practical and sustainable solutions that enhance food security.
//Petra// NQ
