Why attend
Bangladesh has achieved strong economic growth over the last 10 years, with poverty reduction driven by increases in agricultural productivity.
However, challenges for food companies and agri-entrepreneurs in the country remain as export markets raise the bar on sustainability expectations, particularly on food safety and food security, which line up with the World Bank's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2.
Bangladesh ranks 84th out of 121 countries in the Global Hunger Index and 129th of 191 countries in the Human Development Index. According to the 2022 Climate Risk Index, the country ranks 7th out of 10 for being most vulnerable to climate change. Reducing food loss and waste can positively impact climate change. WHO estimates that together, foodborne and waterborne diarrheal diseases kill about 2.2 million people annually—of them, 1.9 million are children. This toll has huge economic ramifications. FAO has estimated that in Dhaka alone, and for only six diseases, the economic losses total $1.65 billion per year. But the implementation of Food Standards can save lives as is even the theme of the World Food Safety day on 7 June 2023.
Food businesses in Asia and Southeast Asia can be successful (and resilient) if they embrace sustainable practices for both local and export markets. IFC’s focus on good food safety practices is a platform that agribusinesses can learn from to make food safer and more nutritious and to prevent losses in their business.
The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has made the development of the agriculture sector (including fisheries and livestock) a priority. The World Bank is supporting this sector with several large investment projects, including a $500 million loan for a Livestock and Dairy Development Project in which a part of the planned activities is dedicated to enhancing food safety across livestock value chains. For over a decade, IFC has helped food companies in emerging markets participate in modern food value chains and build the capacity of governments to improve food safety control systems.
IFC’s 10th International Food Safety Forum will bring together private and public sector players in agribusiness with an interest in global food safety. The theme of this year’s forum is Keeping Food Safe and Nutritious, Preventing Losses. It will focus on highlighting the impacts of good practices in food safety, nutrition, and food waste on climate and inequity, as well as investigating how the private sector can help address the challenges and reap the opportunities.
The forum will include IFC clients and potential clients, decision-makers of top food producers, policymakers, manufacturers, tourism companies, retailers, cold chain logistics providers, consumer organizations, and other players in the agribusiness sector in Bangladesh. The forum is designed to highlight methods that will support the GoB’s desire to improve the food sector in Bangladesh and beyond. Key national interlocutors will include the Ministry of Food, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Industry, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Bangladesh Standards Testing Institute, SMEs, producer organizations, and private sector representatives.
Key Topics
- Food Safety Strategies – a Path to Growth
- Empowering Private Sector Leadership
- Sustainability and Prevention of Food Loss and Waste in Developing Countries
- Gender-Smart Solutions for Food Safety
- GAFSP Special Session on Food safety and Nutrition
- How IT Solutions can help private sector to manage risk?
When: June 11, 2023
Where: Dhaka, Bangladesh