Setting the Context: Global Economic Transformations, Price Volatility and their Impact on Food Security in the Arab World.

• World food crisis: reasons and implications.
• Effects of climate change.
• Commodity price volatility.
• Status of food security in the Arab region.

Agricultural Development and Arab Potential: A Prelude to Achieving Food Security

• Agricultural development policies and strategies in the Arab world.
• Do the Arab countries have sufficient potential and natural resources to face up to the food crisis?
• How can Arab economic cooperation and integration contribute to improving food security?
• Infrastructure development and water security.
• Government support schemes.
• Success stories of governmental and private schemes to promote food production.

Arab Initiatives and Achievements to Ensure Food Security

• The Arab Economic Summit initiative for food security.
• GCC initiatives.
• Encouraging and promoting private investment in agricultural development projects.

Role of Agro Industries in Achieving Regional Food Security and Investment Opportunities in Such Industries

• Policies and strategies for promoting Agro industries.
• Examples of the contribution of agro industries to food security and Job creation.
• Existing Arab food industries: Examples from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Tunisia and other countries.
• Other food industries that have a potential in the region (cereals, meat and fish processing, dairy products, vegetable oils, sugar)
• Investment opportunities in traditional agro industries.
• Investment prospects and opportunities in organic agriculture.
• Investing in biotechnology.

Food Security in Focus: Food Safety

• Food Safety Regulations in the Arab World, Necessity of Collaboration: Regional Food Constitution.
• Food safety in the Arab industries and the challenge of specifications, standards and quality certification
• Factors affecting the safety of food products:
• Inputs used: water, fertilizers, pesticides.
• Packaging, refrigeration, storage and transportation.

Control and Awareness in Achieving Food Safety

• Regional differences in the application of food safety control measures, and use of successful policies as examples for other countries.
• Importance of training in food safety.
• Increasing awareness in the Arab consumer as a means of improving food safety and quality.