Strengthening Agricultural Resilience through Scientific Dialogue and Policy Recommendations

📍 College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences | May 24, 2025 – University Press Office (UNPO) | In line with its Strategic Plan 2023–2038 and commitment to addressing national food security challenges, the University of Duhok (UOD) organized a two-day national workshop titled:
“Field Crops Are the Fundamental of Food Security”
The event was hosted by the Department of Field Crops, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, and brought together academic staff, ministry officials, and agricultural experts to assess the current food security situation and propose solutions based on field crop sustainability.

🎓 Workshop Context and Justification
Given the increasing instability of food security in the region due to environmental pressures and geopolitical challenges, the workshop served as a timely platform to explore:

• The role of field crops in ensuring food sustainability
   
• The responsibilities of the agricultural community and policy-makers
   
• The impact of smart agriculture and crop innovation on national food supply
   

🗓 Day 1 Highlights – April 15, 2025
The workshop opened with remarks by Dr. Rezgar Idrees Saeed, Assistant Professor at the Department of Field Crops, who emphasized the urgency of national food security strategies.
Key presentations included:

• Introduction to the Concept of Food Security by Dr. Rezgar Idrees
   
• Role of Field Crops in Local and Global Food Security by Dr. Fathi Abdulkareem Omer
   
• Smart Agriculture’s Role in Tackling Food Insecurities by Dr. Nahla Muhammed Saleem
   

🗓 Day 2 Highlights – April 16, 2025

• The Effect of Field Crop Hybrids on Food Security by Dr. Hajer Saeed Ali
   
• A panel discussion moderated by Dr. Fathi A. Omer featuring representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Rezgar Mustafa, and Mr. Saman Omer, focused on policy challenges and the potential of local innovation
   
• The workshop concluded with a closing address by Dr. Rezgar Idrees, who summarized key outcomes and led the presentation of recommendations and participant certificates
   

🧩 Workshop Objectives

• Define the concept and pillars of food security
   
• Clarify the role of field crops in achieving long-term food stability
   
• Formulate practical suggestions for governmental and international actors
   
• Consolidate expert insights into a formal set of policy recommendations
   

🤝 Organizing Committee
The workshop was coordinated by:

• Dr. Hajer Saeed Ali
   
• Dr. Fathi Abdulkareem Omer
   
• Dr. Guhdar Salih Hussein
   
• Dr. Ibrahim Salim Ismael
   
• Mr. Wisam Khalid Sabri
   
• Mr. Hadi Murad Hassan
   

🎯 Strategic Alignment with UOD Vision 2023–2038
This initiative directly contributes to UOD’s institutional goals by:
✅ Promoting applied agricultural research to enhance food sovereignty
✅ Building academic-policy partnerships for rural development
✅ Supporting sustainability and innovation in agricultural engineering
✅ Empowering researchers to contribute to national food strategies

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THIS EVENT 

📢 University Press Office – May 24, 2025
📝 Reported by: Fatima Mahmood Ali, Bilnd Jalal H.

Photography by: 

🔍 The News Keywords:

• University of Duhok Food Security Workshop
   
• Field Crops and Smart Agriculture Iraq
   
• UOD College of Agricultural Engineering
   
• National Food Policy Kurdistan
   
• Agricultural Innovation and Food Sustainability