23/04/2025

The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, held today the final workshop for the National Traceability System for Agri-Food Products. The event brought together representatives from government institutions, the private sector, civil society organizations, and academia to present the final recommendations for the system, marking the conclusion of the design phase and paving the way for policy adoption and actual implementation.

The workshop was opened by H.E. Mr. Ahmad Hawyan, Assistant Secretary-General at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and Eng. Baker Al Balawneh, Assistant Secretary-General for Agricultural Extension at the Ministry of Agriculture. In their remarks, both officials highlighted the strategic importance of the system in advancing the Economic Modernization Vision, improving food safety, and enhancing the ability of Jordanian agricultural products to access international markets.

The project was led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, and in partnership with Manafeth Middle East Consulting, and funded by the Jordan Growth Multi-Donor Trust Fund, supported by the governments of the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, and Norway. The project was implemented over five phases, focusing on key agri-food supply chains, including fresh fruits and vegetables, poultry, and live animals.

In his opening remarks, Mr. Hawyan emphasized:

“This project represents a real economic reform aligned with the Economic Modernization Vision. It stands as a successful model of public-private partnership and aims to build a transparent, digital agri-food system that meets global market demands and contributes to sustainable development.”

Adding to this, Mr. Thamer Shoshan, Deputy Director & Technical Lead at the Reform Secretariat, stressed the broader impact of the system:

"The National Agri-Food Traceability System is more than just a monitoring tool—it’s a game-changer for Jordan’s private sector, unlocking export competitiveness, fueling market and product diversification, and elevating Jordanian products as premium choices on the global stage. As a strategic lever of Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision, this system drives forward key national priorities—export diversification, agricultural modernization, food security, and digital transformation—building resilience and seamlessly integrating Jordan’s agri-food value chains into global markets."

The design phase produced several key recommendations, including the establishment of a centralized national digital platform for tracking agricultural and food products across all stages of the supply chain. It also proposed providing user-friendly digital tools for smallholder farmers, enabling them to input and trace data easily. In addition, the recommendations call for developing an inclusive governance structure involving representatives from both the public and private sectors to enhance institutional coordination. The integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies was also emphasized, aiming to increase transparency, simplify traceability, and support data-driven decision-making.

Participants underscored the importance of capacity building and continuous stakeholder engagement to ensure the successful adoption of the system in line with international market requirements. This achievement represents a significant step forward toward implementing a modern, sustainable traceability system that will enhance food security and contribute to the growth of Jordan’s agricultural sector.