BUSINESSMED took part on June 21, 2021 in the activities of the 2nd Independent Dialogue of the UN Food Systems Summit organized by the Union for the Mediterranean the International Centre for Advanced Mediterranean Agronomic Studies (CIHEAM), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN One Planet Network Sustainable Food Systems Programme, and the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area Foundation (PRIMA)
The event builds on the findings of the 1st Dialogue held on 27 April, and fostered inclusive discussions to identify common pathways for sustainable food systems (SFS) in the Mediterranean, supporting their transformation and ultimately advancing progress on the 2030 Agenda in the region.

Speaking during the second panel, Ms. JihenBoutiba Mrad Boutiba Secretary General of BUSINESSMED stated: “...It is essential to make social inclusion, gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth priorities of the agenda of the Public Development Bank. Food systems and agri-food value chains can offer a wide variety of green jobs for women and youth... There are also business opportunities in increasing access to safe and nutritious food and we need to facilitate access to these opportunities for smallholders, farmers and SMEs. A multi-stakeholder approach will need to be intensified to unlock more investment in agribusiness.”