APN | Zoom

11 May 2026

Razan Zuayter, APN Chairperson, founder of the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (ANFS) and Co-Chair of the People’s Coalition on Food Sovereignty (PCFS), called for a unified Arab strategy centered on food sovereignty and local production during her address at the 14th Meeting of the Subcommittee for the Eradication of Hunger affiliated with the League of Arab States (LAS). 

Zuayter stressed that addressing hunger across the Arab region requires confronting the root causes of food insecurity, foremost among them armed conflict, political instability, and policies aimed at controlling natural resources. She emphasised that lasting solutions depend on regional cooperation, agricultural integration, and strengthening domestic food production.

In her remarks, Zuayter stated:

"For nearly 150 years, this region has been forced into cycles of war, conflict, and instability, to enable control over its resources. We must therefore address the root causes of these conflicts. Building peace among the countries of the Arab and Islamic worlds is one of the most important pathways to achieving food sovereignty, and agriculture has a vital role to play in fostering that peace."

She underscored the importance of regional agricultural integration, noting that food security challenges cannot be tackled by individual countries alone.

"The regional approach discussed today is the right one. Colleagues also discussed the means and initiatives to achieve this. However, integration must move beyond being an abstract concept. We need shared strategies and joint initiatives—even small-scale projects—that translate cooperation into tangible action. Our committee has the opportunity to drive such efforts forward".

Concluding her intervention, Zuayter challenged policymakers to rethink their priorities.

"When we speak about finding new maritime routes, are we merely responding to crises, or are we working together to confront the ongoing wars affecting our region? Shouldn't our collective focus be on food sovereignty?"

She also highlighted the distinction between food security and food sovereignty, arguing that while expanding strategic food reserves is essential, those reserves must ultimately be built on strong local and regionally integrated agricultural production.

"Food sovereignty goes beyond maintaining stockpiles. Strategic reserves are important, but they must be rooted in local production. It is local production, supported by regional agricultural integration, that will protect us from future crises."

Zuayter concluded by urging the committee to adopt a more practical and action-oriented role.

"I hope this committee will distinguish itself from other forums, which too often remain theoretical rather than grounded in reality. It should work toward developing a concrete Arab strategy that advances regional integration and food sovereignty."