Agriculture Minister Sabally Attends Zero Waste Summit in Turkey, Engages in Bilateral Talks on Rice Production

By Makutu Manneh

Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security, participated in a high-level ministerial conference on zero waste held in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 6, 2026, where he underscored The Gambia’s ongoing challenges with food waste and post-harvest losses.

The summit, chaired by Turkey’s First Lady, Her Excellency Emine Erdoğan, convened global stakeholders to deliberate on critical issues including food waste reduction, nutrition security, water resource management, and climate-smart agriculture.

Speaking as a panelist, Minister Sabally highlighted that food waste in The Gambia is predominantly driven by post-harvest losses, limited value addition, and inadequate market access for farmers. He emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address these structural challenges.

The minister further called for enhanced support from Turkey, particularly in light of global supply chain disruptions that have constrained access to fertilizers and driven up the cost of agricultural inputs.

On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Sabally held bilateral discussions with Turkey’s Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı. During the meeting, he outlined The Gambia’s potential for increased rice production and explored avenues for technical cooperation and investment to strengthen the country’s agricultural sector.

The Zero Waste Forum 2026, held from June 5 to 7 in Istanbul, is a major international platform dedicated to advancing sustainable development, promoting circular economy models, and driving climate action. The forum also serves as a precursor to COP31, fostering global commitment to zero-waste policies aimed at mitigating climate change, reducing food waste, and addressing environmental degradation.