A High-Level Ministerial Panel on “Preventing Food and Water Waste – Safeguarding Our Future”, organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye and the Zero Waste Foundation under the patronage of H.E. Emine ERDOĞAN, First Lady of the Republic of Türkiye, was held on 28 November 2025 in Istanbul. The event brought together ministers, deputy ministers, senior officials, representatives of regional and international organisations.

In the panel, 15 OIC countries, namely Albania, Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Djibouti, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, Syria, Türkiye, and UAE were represented.

In her keynote speech, First Lady H.E. ERDOĞAN warmly welcomed the esteemed ministers and high-level country representatives. H.E. ERDOĞAN highlighted the urgent challenge of food and water waste, emphasising global inequality and calling for a broad awakening, as this issue is now vital to humanity’s future. H.E. ERDOĞAN said that change must begin in our homes and habits, and that the Zero Waste movement offers the strongest way forward—reducing waste and protecting our shared future.

In his speech, H.E. İbrahim YUMAKLI, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, thoroughly addressed the most pressing issues concerning the future of food and water. H.E. emphasised the importance of developing collaborative solutions with countries across a broad range of topics, from the impacts of climate change on agriculture to the efficient use of water, from food security to waste reduction.

In his remarks, Mr. Samed AĞIRBAŞ, President of Zero Waste Foundation, underscored Türkiye’s 2022 UN resolution establishing October 30 as International Zero Waste Day. Mr AĞIRBAŞ emphasised that the Zero Waste Forum is a call that unites the world with shared responsibility for its future. Mr AĞIRBAŞ stated that the Zero Waste Movement is the struggle of those who embrace the principle of living and letting live, highlighting the importance of unity as the strongest step towards a waste-free future. He highlighted as well that hosting COP31 in Türkiye next year would mark a pivotal moment for global zero-waste ambitions.

H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK participated in the Panel and delivered a statement on behalf of H.E. Hissein Brahim TAHA, Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The statement started with the conveyance of the appreciation for the First Lady. Her exemplary vision and global leadership promoted the Zero Waste movement and placed environmental stewardship high on the international development agenda. It also drew attention to urgent global concerns. Each year, around 1.3 billion tons of food—roughly one-third of global production—is wasted, while nearly 800 million people continue to face hunger. Recent assessments show that 234 million people in OIC countries were undernourished, making up 34% of the world’s total.

Underscoring the scale of food and water waste challenges worldwide and across the OIC, the statement emphasised the need for stronger joint action to protect natural resources, foster sustainability, and safeguard the well-being of future generations. It also reaffirmed the OIC’s commitment to advancing evidence-based policy dialogue, supporting Member States in strengthening national strategies, and enhancing coordination across all relevant sectors.

The event served as an important platform for sharing successful practices, strengthening partnerships, and renewing the international community’s commitment to reducing waste and promoting responsible resource management as a key pillar of sustainable development.

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