Food security expert, Director of the Geneva Center for Studies, and former FAO Ambassador Dr. Fadel ELZUBI explained that the second executive program places agriculture and food security within the High-Value Industries Engine, one of the eight drivers of the Economic Modernization Vision. Its goal is to position Jordan as a regional hub for industry and agricultural production through high-quality, value-added products. This includes projects and initiatives aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, improving value chains, and expanding investment in modern farming.
He noted that the program ties these projects to clear impact indicators—such as increasing agricultural value-added, enhancing competitiveness, and strengthening national food security. By integrating agriculture into the broader framework of industrial development, the program seeks to transform the sector from a subsidized activity into a strategic investment pillar that contributes to economic growth and strengthens Jordan’s resilience against food and climate challenges.
ELZUBI added that innovation and technology form a central axis of the program. The government has embedded them within the Entrepreneurship and Creativity Engine, which focuses on preparing talent for future jobs, including smart agriculture. Innovation in farming means developing crop varieties more resistant to climate change, introducing advanced irrigation and production techniques, and harnessing big data to monitor productivity and marketing. Technology, in turn, helps reduce losses, raise efficiency, and improve product quality—directly reinforcing food security.
He emphasized that the program opens the door to digital and smart agriculture, through agricultural information systems, modern water-saving irrigation, and renewable energy use. These tools enable real-time crop monitoring, disease and pest forecasting, and guiding farmers toward best practices. Integrating technology into agricultural value chains also reduces intermediaries, improves transparency, and ensures safe food reaches consumers at fair prices. Public-private partnerships can further introduce advanced methods such as vertical farming and hydroponics, which provide food in urban settings and ease pressure on traditional farmland.
Finally, ELZUBI highlighted that the program includes initiatives under the Sustainable Environment Engine, focusing on eco-friendly practices and the transition to a green economy. In agriculture, this means reducing reliance on chemical pesticides and fertilizers, promoting organic farming, and expanding renewable energy use in production. It also encourages reintegrating abandoned lands into sustainable farming systems and shifting seasonal farming toward more stable year-round production. These measures protect natural resources, reduce emissions, and ensure that agricultural growth balances productivity with environmental sustainability.