CFC and Saudi Arabia Discuss Cooperation on Global Food Security, Water Security and Resilient Agricultural Value Chains
The Hague, 16 July 2026 - H.E. Mr. Sheikh Mohammed Belal, Managing Director of the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Shahir K. Al Khaniny, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, to exchange views on strengthening global food security, resilient agricultural value chains and sustainable rural development.
The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the growing vulnerability of global agricultural supply chains amid geopolitical tensions, rising energy and input costs, climate-related pressures and disruptions to major trade routes. Both sides noted that these challenges have significant implications for fertilizer availability, agricultural production costs and the resilience of food systems, particularly in developing and commodity-dependent countries.
Ambassador Belal emphasized that strengthening global food systems requires more than increasing agricultural production. It also requires ensuring that smallholder farmers, cooperatives and rural enterprises are better connected to markets, have access to appropriate finance and receive fairer returns for the value they create.
He highlighted the CFC's work in supporting the so-called "missing middle" - small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that connect smallholder producers with domestic and international markets. Through blended finance, technical assistance and strategic partnerships, the CFC seeks to strengthen local processing, improve productivity, promote value addition and build more resilient commodity value chains.
Both sides agreed that the resilience of global food systems ultimately depends on the resilience of those at the beginning of agricultural value chains. Low-income smallholder farmers are often the first to experience the consequences of supply disruptions, rising fertilizer prices and increased production costs. Targeted investment in sustainable finance, climate resilience, market access and local value addition is therefore essential to protecting livelihoods and strengthening food and nutrition security.
The discussions also highlighted the growing importance of water security as a fundamental pillar of sustainable agriculture and global food security. Ambassador Al Khaniny drew attention to the Global Water Organization (GWO), established at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and headquartered in Riyadh, as an important new multilateral platform for promoting international cooperation on water sustainability, innovation and investment. He encouraged the CFC to explore the work of the Organization and identify areas of complementarity, recognizing the close interrelationship between water security, agricultural productivity and resilient commodity value chains. Ambassador Belal welcomed the suggestion and expressed his appreciation for Saudi Arabia's leadership in establishing the Global Water Organization as a platform for addressing one of the world's most pressing development challenges.
Ambassador Belal also congratulated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on its outstanding leadership in international development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. He noted that Saudi Arabia has firmly established itself as one of the world's leading development partners, providing substantial financial and humanitarian assistance to developing countries through the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and other initiatives. He further commended the Kingdom for sustaining this remarkable generosity despite an increasingly challenging global economic and geopolitical environment, describing Saudi Arabia's enduring commitment as a powerful demonstration of international solidarity and shared responsibility for advancing sustainable development, food security and poverty alleviation worldwide.
Recalling Ambassador Belal's visit to Saudi Arabia in February 2026, both sides welcomed the progress made in strengthening relations between the CFC and Saudi institutions. The discussions explored opportunities to build on this momentum through closer engagement with the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and other relevant institutions to identify practical avenues for collaboration in food security, agricultural finance, resilient value chains and sustainable rural development.
Ambassador Belal noted that the Kingdom's strategic vision, development experience and commitment to sustainable investment position Saudi Arabia as an important partner in transforming agricultural value chains and improving livelihoods across commodity-dependent developing countries. He expressed the CFC's readiness to work closely with Saudi institutions in identifying innovative financing solutions that can support smallholder farmers, agricultural SMEs and rural communities.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing appreciation for the constructive exchange and reaffirming their commitment to maintaining close dialogue. They agreed to continue exploring opportunities for cooperation that could strengthen food systems, support smallholder farmers and agricultural SMEs, and promote more resilient, inclusive and sustainable commodity value chains.