Advancements in Sustainable Development of Special Agricultural Products: Key Takeaways from the First FAO Technical Workshop on the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative for Demonstration Countries.

Sanya — The First FAO Technical Workshop on the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative for Demonstration Countries was held in Sanya, China from 15 to 18 July 2024. The focal points from 16 OCOP demonstration countries across the five FAO regions and diverse geographic zones, including tropics, drylands, and mountainous regions. The participants convened to explore and exchange strategies on leveraging technologies to foster the sustainable development of the Special Agricultural Products (SAPs) selected by the countries. This workshop was jointly organized by the OCOP Secretariat of FAO and the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS). 

The OCOP initiative is a five-year programme was launched by the FAO Director-General Dr. QU Dongyu in 2021. The initiative supports countries to produce more with less through optimizing production, processing, storage and marketing, minimizing environmental and social impacts, maximizing benefits for farmers and food chain actors, while diversifying diets for better food security and nutrition.  

Dr Jingyuan Xia, the Executive Secretary, the OCOP Secretariat of FAO, mentioned that up to now, a total of 85 Countries across all five FAO Regions are promoting the sustainable value chains of 54 SAPs through OCOP initiative, with tropical countries and their products making up over 60 percent of this number. “The global success in implementing the OCOP initiative greatly depends on the establishment of an effective demonstration mechanism to lead, showcase, and facilitate the sustainable development of SAPs in all OCOP countries,” Xia emphasized. 

Dr Jingyuan Xia, Executive Secretary of the FAO OCOP Secretariat, delivers the opening remarks.         ©FAO 

The workshop brought together 16 demonstration countries from across the globe representing the five FAO Regions, including Congo, Ghana, Lesotho, Malawi, and Tanzania from Africa; Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, and Samoa from Asia and the Pacific; Georgia and Uzbekistan from Europe and Central Asia; Chile, Mexico, and Trinidad and Tobago from Latin America and the Caribbean; and Egypt and Iraq from the Near East and North Africa. 

The participants from Mexico Ms. Lizbeth Rodrigez Pestana and Mr. Ruben Beltran Palafox introduced the country's SAP - amaranth.         ©FAO 

The workshop aimed to discuss how demonstration countries can organize the implementation of OCOP activities at national, community and farmers’ field levels; how to promote integration, demonstration, validation, and extension of the relevant technologies; how to mobilize the technical, financial and human resources available to support the implementation of the OCOP projects; and how to guide and encourage all OCOP countries to actively promote and support the sustainable value chains of SAPs. 

Scene of the First FAO Technical Workshop on the Implementation of the One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) Initiative for Demonstration Countries.              ©FAO 

In this event, chief scientists and chief experts from China’s leading research institutes shared insights on sustainable development of selected SAPs such as soybeans, potatoes, bananas and cassava. They also discussed advancements in agricultural product processing and Geographical Indications Environment and Sustainability (GIES), sparking keen interest and lively discussions among the participants. The progress and achievement in implementing the OCOP initiative at global, regional and national levels were reviewed by country presentations and discussions. Through visits to Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City in Sanya, the Sanya Research Institute of CATAS, Yazhou Bay National Laboratory, and the National Nanfan Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, participants gained a deeper understanding of China's innovations and applications of science and technology.

Participants conducted field visits to the Yazhou Bay Science & Technology City in Sanya.        ©FAO 

Participants visited  the high-throughput plant phenotyping platform at the National Nanfan Research Institute of the CATAS.           ©FAO 

Mr. Ian Mohammed, OCOP National Focal Point, Director of the Research Division at Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries in Trinidad and Tobago, highlighted the nation’s rich cocoa genetic resources. With the support of the OCOP initiative, Trinidad and Tobago leverages its abundant cocoa genetic resources to adopt advanced farming techniques, aiming to increase cocoa yields and expand its export market. 

Mr. Osborne Tsoka, OCOP National Focal Point, National Banana Production Center Coordinator at Ministry of Agriculture in Malawi, stated that Malawi is exploring the implementation of a national plan for the development of the banana industry. The aim is to improve banana production and processing techniques and pest and disease management. Technical exchanges and training through the OCOP initiative will promote further development of the banana value chain in the country. 

Mr. Amgad El Kady, alternate OCOP National Focal Point, Executive Director of Food and Agroindustries Technology Center at Ministry of Trade and Industry in Egypt, praised the advanced agriculture and smart farming in Hainan, expressing interest in future collaborations for sustainable development of tropical agriculture. 

Mr Amgad El Kady, the alternate OCOP Focal Point from Egypt and Executive Director of the Food and Agroindustries Technology Center at the Ministry of Trade and Industry in Egypt (left), and Mr Mohamed Yacoub, OCOP Focal Point and the Assistant FAO Representative i in Egypt (right), showcased Egypt's SAP, the date palm, along with related knowledge products.                                      ©FAO 

Exhibition of SAPsat the Workshop Venue                             ©FAO 

Dr. Liu Kui, Director of the International Cooperation Office, CATAS, highlighted the strategic significance of the conference in Sanya, which showcases the advancements in China’s tropical agriculture. . He emphasized that CATAS is dedicated to the sustainable development of SAPs such as cassava, banana, cocoa, date palm, jackfruit, and coffee, aiming to offer innovative solutions and technical expertise. 

In December 2023 during the 174th FAO Council, the government of the People’s Republic of China has pledged USD 5 million – the largest single contribution to the OCOP initiative received to date through the FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme. It provides strong support for the further advancement of the OCOP and sets an example for other Member nations. The Foreign Economic Cooperation Center (FECC) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China serves as the comprehensive coordinating entity for the FAO-China OCOP South-South Cooperation project. 

This historic technical workshop is set to be a catalyst for the FAO OCOP initiative, driving its extensive and in-depth implementation across global, regional, national, community, and farm levels. It will help promote SAPs, aligning with FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, and achieving the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.