Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain, arrived in Berlin to attend the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture (GFFA) 2026, being held from 14–17 January 2026. The forum, hosted annually by the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, convenes global leaders to advance cooperation on food security, sustainable agriculture, innovation and climate resilience.
On the sidelines of the forum, Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain held a positive meeting with Mr. Azat Sultanov, Vice Minister for Agriculture, Kazakhstan, during which both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in agriculture and food security. The Pakistani side underlined the need for practical partnerships that support productivity, resilience and value-chain development, while Kazakhstan expressed readiness to broaden engagement through structured collaboration between relevant institutions and technical bodies.
Mr. Azat Sultanov welcomed Pakistan’s participation at GFFA 2026 and emphasized Kazakhstan’s interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in areas of mutual benefit. He highlighted the value of sustained institutional linkages and regular technical-level engagement to translate shared priorities into actionable cooperation. The two sides discussed exploring avenues for collaboration that can contribute to improved farm outcomes, enhanced knowledge-sharing, and closer coordination on modern agricultural practices.
In a separate meeting, Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain met Mr. Stefan Schmitz, Executive Director of Crop Trust, to discuss cooperation on conserving and utilizing crop diversity—a cornerstone for strengthening food systems against climate stress. The Minister appreciated Crop Trust’s role in supporting conservation and improvement of crop diversity in Pakistan, particularly for developing climate-resistant and resilient crops, and invited the organization to consider opening an office in Pakistan to deepen cooperation in research and development.
Mr. Stefan Schmitz commended Pakistan’s focus on climate resilience and noted that safeguarding crop diversity is essential for long-term food security, improved nutrition, and the ability to respond to evolving challenges such as heat, drought, pests and diseases. He conveyed Crop Trust’s willingness to expand engagement with Pakistan’s institutions in areas such as strengthening conservation systems, supporting research linkages, and facilitating cooperation that helps translate genetic resources into farmer-relevant solutions. He also emphasized the importance of building strong partnerships with national stakeholders to ensure sustained impact, capacity development and knowledge transfer.
Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain noted that Pakistan’s engagement at GFFA 2026 reflects the Government’s commitment to climate-smart agriculture, innovation, sustainable resource management, and strong international partnerships. Pakistan’s delegation will continue participating in plenary discussions, thematic sessions and ministerial engagements throughout the forum to advance national priorities, learn from global best practices, and build cooperation with partner countries and international organizations.
