AMMAN — Under the patronage of HRH Princess Basma bint Talal, a dialogue session on Wednesday was organised by the National Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition (NAJMA), to review Jordan's food security and nutrition indicators in the global and regional context.

 

The session was in light of the findings of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2026 (SOFI) report.

 

HRH Princess Basma bint Talal stressed that food security goes beyond food availability or reducing hunger, requiring access to diverse, nutritious and healthy food, particularly for children during early stages of life.

 

Speaking at the session, HRH Princess Basma said food security requires a comprehensive approach that protects children from all forms of malnutrition.

 

Comprehensive approach needed to address food insecurity

 

Princess Basma said food insecurity could not be addressed through food interventions alone, stressing the need to tackle water scarcity and climate change, improve livelihoods and social protection, and strengthen women's economic participation.

 

In the presence of Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) Executive Director Farah Daghestani, she highlighted the role of rural women, families and young people in villages, remote areas and refugee camps as partners in strengthening food security.

 

She said Jordan had turned scarcity into an incentive to seek more effective solutions and could apply the same approach to food security.

 

Princess Basma also underscored the importance of raising public awareness, correcting misconceptions about nutrition, encouraging healthy food choices and building food systems capable of providing safe, sufficient and nutritious food for all.

 

Agriculture sector records 7.8% growth

 

Agriculture Minister and Higher Council for Food Security Vice President Saeb Khreisat, said the positive indicators highlighted in the report presented a responsibility to take more proactive measures to maintain progress and prepare for future challenges, ensuring everyone's right to safe, sufficient and nutritious food.

 

Jordan is considered food-secure in terms of food availability, safety and accessibility, he said, attributing the results to coordinated efforts by national public and private institutions, international partners, agricultural workers and exporters.

 

Khreisat also highlighted the contribution of rural women to food security, noting Jordan's participation in specialised international forums, including the recent World Food Forum held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) headquarters in Rome.

 

He said 2026 had been designated the Year of Women Farmers in Jordan, in recognition of the role of rural women in strengthening food security.

 

The agricultural sector recorded the highest growth rate among economic sectors in the second quarter of this year, expanding by 7.8 per cent and contributing 4.5 per cent to gross domestic product, Khreisat said.

 

He attributed the performance to continued Royal directives to the government to strengthen and sustain supply chains and ensure food security under all circumstances.

 

Khreisat also pointed to the potential of Jordan's date sector, noting that national date exports generate around $90 million annually.

 

The sector provides approximately 12,000 jobs, including around 5,000 held by women, he said, referring to the ongoing Jordanian Dates Festival.

 

Improvements in nutrition indicators

 

World Food Programme (WFP) Representative and Country Director in Jordan Antonella D'Aprile, commended Jordan's food security policies and efforts to ensure that individuals and families have access to food.

 

However, geopolitical challenges facing the world and the region continue to pose a serious threat to food security in many countries, she said.

 

FAO Representative in Jordan Thaer Yassin, said the report showed that the world remained off track to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger by 2030.

 

Rising food prices remain among the main factors affecting individuals' and families' ability to access healthy, nutritious and affordable diets, he said.

 

Yassin said Jordan had made notable progress in several food security and nutrition indicators, with the prevalence of undernourishment declining to 12.2 per cent from 17.9 per cent in previous years.

 

Jordan had also maintained a low child wasting rate of 2.3 per cent, while the share of the population unable to afford a healthy diet had fallen to 2.2 per cent, he added.

 

These results reflected sustained national efforts to strengthen food security and improve dietary and health outcomes, Yassin said, reaffirming the FAO's support for the government's national priorities, particularly the Economic Modernisation Vision.

 

The vision recognises agriculture's central role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, strengthening food security and promoting innovation and sustainability, he said.

 

NAJMA Secretary General Fadel Zoubi, said the report highlighted positive developments reflecting accumulated national policies, institutional coordination and continued support.

 

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World is a major international reference providing global food security indicators. It is jointly produced by several international organisations, including the FAO, WFP, World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

 

The report serves as a key reference for governments, multilateral institutions and researchers in monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 and related targets.