Agriculture provides the basis of subsistence for the population by production of food and raw materials. This sector constitute a large share of national output and employs a majority of the labor force in most developing countries. However, in recent times, Agriculture has experienced a number of severe shocks with record high oil prices, commodity price spikes, food security fears and resultant trade restrictions, not to mention the most serious global economic downturn since the 1930s. The greatest impact has been on the poor, especially in developing countries, with the world’s hungry now estimated at over 1 billion people. Fortunately, Agriculture has shown remarkable resilience with strong supply response to high prices and with continuing, albeit dampened, demands growth during the crisis.

In addressing this situation, D-8 Ministers of Agriculture Meeting on Food Security was held on 25-27 February 2009 in Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia. During the fruitful meeting, all the delegations adopted Kuala Lumpur Initiative to Address Food Security in D-8 Countries to face the challenges of global food crisis. The KL initiative identified three priority projects to be implemented among D-8 countries. The three projects are:

1.The productivity and supply of quality fertilizers

2.The productivity and supply of quality animal feeds

3.The creation of seed banks to supply quality seeds

The meeting also acknowledges the importance of information gathering among D-8 countries and agreed on the establishment of a market information service system in D-8 countries be initiated on animal feed, seed banks and fertilizers. The D-8 Ministers agreed that it is important to address the issues of standards and trade issues separately as it encompass all the three subject matters. Within this line, the meeting agreed to appoint prime movers to implement the initiatives as follows: 

1.Seed bank : Turkey & Iran

2.Animal Feed : Malaysia & Indonesia

3.Fertilizers : Egypt

4.Standards & Trade Issues : Iran & Turkey

5.Marine and Fisheries : Indonesia

This meeting was followed up by the 2nd D-8 Agricultural Ministerial Meeting on Food Security, which was held on 18th May 2011 in Tehran, Iran, during which the Ministers reiterated commitments made and goals set in the framework of the 6th D-8 Summit Meetings in Kuala Lumpur, 2008, the D-8 Roadmap for Economic Cooperation in the “Second Decade of Cooperation”, “Kuala Lumpur Initiatives to Ensure Food Security”, as well as the previous ministerial meetings, and emphasized that more focus needs to be given to formulation and implementation of concrete projects and activities to translate those goals into collective action by D-8 Group.

One of D-8 achievement in Food Security cooperation is the MoUs between OIC and D8, and D-8 and ECO, to Activate Joint Economic Cooperation. The MoU seeks to encourage the development of joint programs and projects in all sectors, especially in trade, agriculture and tourism, through utilization of the human and material resources of both organizations as well as poised to exchange experiences and expertise to ensure the speedy implementation of their various economic development programs.

Another progress that D-8 have been developing in the food security cooperation is the institutional development of these working groups, which a prime mover as a coordinator, with a permanent secretariat to follow-up, evaluate and implement the program and the activities. Also, in every meeting, these working groups will also inviting the participation of private sectors. Considering the interest of Member Countries to issues related to this area, agriculture is one the most promising areas of cooperation in D-8.  

The 3rd D-8 Agricultural Ministerial Meeting on Food Security and the Working Groups shall be held in Mataram, Indonesia, on 3-5 October 2012.