The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held the 38th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC38) on Monday, April 20, 2026, at its headquarters in Rome. FAO Director-General QU Dongyu warned that the 2026 conflict in the Middle East is adding further pressure on fragile agrifood systems and global supply chains, threatening the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food, according to a press release by FAO. The conference took place during what Qu described as a “critical moment” for the region.
The NERC38 was chaired by the United Arab Emirates, represented by Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. The regional ministerial conference brought together ministers and policymakers from across the region. They gathered to discuss the increasingly complex and interconnected landscape of risks severely affecting agrifood systems and food security. Qu stressed the need to recognize “the immense importance of maintaining trade flows, and of ensuring access to adequate food for all, particularly in import-dependent countries.” FAO is closely assessing the impacts of ongoing global conflicts on food security and agrifood supply chains to provide evidence, technical expertise, and policy support to members.
Qu warned that disruptions to food production, trade, and distribution systems were compounded by global implications, “including rising energy prices and disruptions in fertilizer markets, which are increasing production costs and affecting agricultural productivity both within the region and beyond.” The crisis is affecting all agricultural inputs, including chemicals and machinery in addition to fertilizers. Qu said he had informed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that its impact would have “long-term consequences for agriculture,” even if it were to end today. Conflicts are already severely impacting farmers, producers, and value chain actors. Their livelihoods are increasingly at risk.
The NERC38 organized Ministerial Roundtables focused on four key priorities: strengthening food supply chains and reducing food loss and waste; diversifying food supply sources; investing in infrastructure and rural development; and fostering meaningful partnerships. Roundtable III specifically addressed financing resilient and climate-smart agrifood systems, noting that climate finance flows to agrifood systems in the NENA region remain limited despite high exposure to droughts, desertification, water scarcity, and rising temperatures. Qu highlighted the Hand-in-Hand and One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiatives as examples of how FAO can make a difference. He invited participants to mobilize additional finance by scaling up blended financing and strengthening partnerships with international financial institutions.
“At FAO, our work is firmly grounded in the belief that the right to food is a basic human right, and that peace is a prerequisite for food security,” Qu said.
Minister Al Dahak affirmed that the UAE’s chairing of the session aims to drive a fundamental shift in the region’s agrifood systems, moving from reactive crisis management to proactive innovation. She said the goal is to empower the region to build resilient systems that can turn environmental and geopolitical challenges into sustainable development opportunities. This shift is to be backed by robust logistics infrastructure and strategic partnerships that keep global supply chains secure. Public investment remains essential, particularly for water management, climate adaptation, and rural infrastructure, though Qu noted that public resources alone are not sufficient. The conference underscored that creating enabling environments to attract responsible private investment is critical to long-term food security in the Near East.
