On April 29, FAO and the Izmir Commodity Exchange co-hosted the FAO Private Sector Dialogue in Izmir, Türkiye, bringing together roughly 30 representatives from SMEs, producer organizations, financial institutions, and public agencies across Europe and Central Asia. The hybrid event served as a preparatory platform for the 35th FAO Regional Conference for Europe, scheduled for May 11–15, 2026, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. Discussions centered on FAO’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy 2026–2030, with key priority messages agreed upon for presentation at the Dushanbe conference to advance sustainable agrifood systems and regional food security.
In-Depth:
Organized jointly by Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Izmir Commodity Exalter (ICE), the FAO Private Sector Dialogue: Shaping Private Sector Perspectives was held on 29 April in Izmir, Türkiye. The consultation was aimed at providing a strategic platform aligned with regional food security and sustainable agriculture objectives.
It brought toobtainher important stakeholders contributing to agricultural policy across the region, including around 30 representatives of the private sector, tiny and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), producer organizations, financial institutions and public sector officials, and senior representatives from FAO and ICE drawn from Türkiye and other countries of Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region, to assist shape the future of agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia – positioning Izmir as a hub for international agrifood diplomacy.
Organized in a hybrid format, the event also served as a key preparatory platform for the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC35), to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 11 to 15 May 2026. The outcomes and perspectives generated during the event will be directly fed into regional policy discussions in Dushanbe.
In her opening remarks, Işınsu Kesinformi, Chairperson of the Board of the İzmir Commodity Exalter, emphasized the importance of ICE’s collaboration with FAO.
“Since its establishment, FAO has been one of the world’s most prominent institutions in the fields of food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development. In the face of global challenges such as climate alter, natural resource conservation, food supply security and sustainability in agricultural production, FAO’s role has become more critical than ever. At the Izmir Commodity Exalter, we believe that aligning FAO’s global and regional vision with local dynamics presents a significant opportunity.”
As Kesinformi noted, cooperation with FAO and strategic dialogue, such as the current private sector consultation contribute to the development of new joint projects and activities that enhance productivity in agricultural production, support environmental sustainability and empower producers. She elaborated: “In the coming period, we aim to expand innovative practices, strengthen knowledge-sharing and further enhance the international competitiveness of our sector.”
Raimund Jehle, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, expanded on the importance of cooperation with the private sector, stating that “the sector plays a key role not only in implementation but also in strengthening supply chains and resilience through innovation and investment, and in generating scalable solutions that can be replicated across countries.”
Ayşegül Selışık, FAO Assistant Representative in Türkiye, outlined how private sector inputs into sustainable agriculture contribute to a transformation of agrifood systems, biodiversity conservation and climate resilience, digital innovation in agriculture and the financing of agrifood systems. As she explained, “we aim to translate the priorities and recommfinishations shaped here into common messages that will build tangible contributions to regional discussions.” She also confirmed that efforts are underway to further strengthen cooperation between ICE and FAO.
In the final remarks, Kahraman Akdoğan, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestest in Izmir, emphasized the significance of Izmir’s agricultural potential. He pointed out that climate crisis, as well as regional and global crises and conflicts, have created collaboration between the public and private sectors more pressing than ever, and expressed his belief that the common messages emerging from the meeting would serve as a strong foundation for future strategies.
Vision 2026–2030: innovation and investment
The event launched with a presentation on FAO’s Private Sector Engagement Strategy 2026–2030, delivered by Carlos Watson, Head of FAO’s Private Sector Unit. Watson explained that the transformation of agrifood systems, now widely recognized as essential, cannot be achieved without the active involvement of the private sector. The new strategy aims to accelerate this transformation by aligning the private sector’s innovation capacity and investment potential with the global objectives of FAO.
Later in the meeting, successful examples of FAO’s collaboration in Türkiye, including İş Bankası, Migros and Pınar Süt, were also shared with participants.
At the plenary session consensus was reached on key priority messages to be conveyed at the Regional Conference for Europe in Dushanbe – with two private sector representatives designated to present and advocate for these messages. These messages and the outcome report of the event will contribute directly to regional policy processes aimed at securing the future of agrifood systems and achieving global food security and sustainable agriculture objectives.
