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Ammon News - Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hanifat said Saturday that Jordan will host the Ninth Global Land Forum May 21-26 with the aim of achieving the 2030 sustainable development goals and the national plan for sustainable agriculture.

Development of agriculture, removing impediments to the sector and building all that helps to maintain food security in the Kingdom is at the centre of His Majesty King Abdullah's interests, Hanaifat told a press conference in the attendance of European Union Ambassador, Maria Hadjitheodosiou and CEO of SEEDS Jordan, Raed Gharib.

He cited challenges facing sustainable land and water management, top of which is land and soil degradation, which pose a major threat to food security, livelihood sustainability, the provision of ecosystem services and the conservation of biodiversity in the region.

The minister said that food security in the Arab region faces many challenges, which require intensification of efforts and cooperation at the regional level to achieve sustainable food security.

He said that the Covid-19 pandemic and crises and disasters caused by climate change showed the urgent need to draw up a comprehensive strategy for the land sector and for the management, governance, sustainability and preservation of its resources.

The EU ambassador said the forum will kick off a discussion on sustainable effort and governance of land responsibility for Jordan, the Arab region and the world, engaging youth in global regional initiatives, exchanging ideas, exploring solutions and building support networks in dealing with global issues and challenges facing youth access to land and protecting their lands around the world with a special focus on Jordan.