The Future of Agriculture for the Europe and Central Asia Region Discussed in İzmir: ICE AND FAO BROUGHT THE PRIVATE SECTOR TOGETHER
In cooperation with the Izmir Commodity Exchange (ICE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), a critical meeting that will shape the future of agrifood systems was held within the scope of FAO’s private sector consultation process for the Europe and Central Asia Region.
Hosted by the Izmir Commodity Exchange and serving as a strategic organization in line with global food security and sustainable agriculture goals, the “FAO–Private Sector Dialogue: Shaping Private Sector Perspectives” Meeting was held on April 29, 2026, at the IzQ Entrepreneurship Center. Bringing together actors who will contribute to agricultural policies in the region, the meeting was attended by private sector representatives, SMEs, producer unions, financial institutions, and public representatives from Türkiye and regional countries, as well as senior officials from FAO and ICE.
Organized in a hybrid format, the meeting serves as the main preparatory platform for the 35th FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC35), to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on May 11–15, 2026. The decisions taken and perspectives formed at the meeting will be directly conveyed to the regional policy processes in Dushanbe.
Delivering the opening speech of the meeting, Izmir Commodity Exchange Chairperson of the Board Işınsu Kestelli said, “Since its establishment, FAO has been one of the world's most important reference institutions in the fields of food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development. Especially today, in the face of global challenges such as climate change, conservation of natural resources, food supply security, and sustainability in agricultural production, FAO’s role has become more critical than ever. As the Izmir Commodity Exchange, we believe that bringing this global vision of FAO together with local dynamics is a great opportunity.”
Stating that through this cooperation they have the opportunity to develop new projects that increase efficiency in agricultural production, support environmental sustainability, and empower producers, Kestelli remarked, “Within the scope of the cooperation to be initiated between our Exchange and FAO, in the upcoming period, through joint projects and activities, we aim to disseminate innovative practices, increase knowledge sharing, and carry the international competitiveness of our sector even further.”
In her speech touching upon the importance of holding the FAO Europe and Central Asia Region private sector consultation meeting once again in Türkiye—just as it was two years ago—and particularly in İzmir, one of the provinces with the highest potential in the field of agriculture and food, FAO Assistant Representative in Türkiye Dr. Ayşegül Selışık emphasized that the concrete proposals of the private sector in today's consultation under the headings of sustainable agriculture and the transformation of agrifood systems, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, digital innovation in agriculture, and the financing of agrifood systems will contribute to FAO’s future policies regarding private sector partnerships. Selışık stated, “We aim for the priorities and proposals shaped here to be transformed into common messages and provide concrete takeaways for the discussions at the regional meeting.” She also noted that they are working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to place the cooperation between the Izmir Commodity Exchange and FAO on a more solid foundation.
The Voice of the Private Sector Reflected in Policies
Within the scope of the meeting, priority needs for the Europe and Central Asia Region were identified by discussing the main themes of sustainability, resilience, inclusivity, and financing in agrifood systems; concrete proposals were developed for private sector organizations operating in the field of agriculture and food to play a more active role in policymaking processes; and new cooperation models were discussed to increase coordination among stakeholders.
2026–2030 Vision: Innovation and Investment
FAO’s Strategy for Private Sector Engagement 2026–2030 was also introduced to the public at the event. With this new Strategy, it is aimed to fully align the innovation power and investment capacity of the private sector with FAO’s global goals, thereby contributing to the sustainability of the transformation in agrifood systems.
While this regional gathering hosted by the Izmir Commodity Exchange turns İzmir into a meeting point for international agrifood diplomacy, it will also increase the global visibility of Türkiye’s private sector presence and experience in the agrifood field. The final report to be prepared and the messages determined at the end of the event will be carried to the FAO Regional Conference to be held in Tajikistan in May, directly contributing to regional policy development and implementation processes.
