The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the UN Development Program, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized the first National Dialogue in preparation for the UN Summit on Food Systems, which will be held in September 2021 in parallel with the UN General Assembly in New York.
National processes, dialogues and consultations in preparation for the Global Summit on Food Systems have already begun in more than 100 countries around the world. Regional dialogues have also begun with the participation of international partners.
In particular, on 25 May, in the format of a working videoconference at the intercountry level, the Regional Dialogue on the Transformation of Food Systems in Europe and Central Asia was held (organized at the regional level: UN Forum on Sustainable Standards). The Republic of Uzbekistan at this videoconference was represented by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev.
The upcoming Fall Global Summit is designed to kick-start action to make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, each of which relies to some degree on healthier, more sustainable and equitably functioning food systems and has five goals:
Ensuring access to safe and nutritious food for all;
Transition to reasonable consumption;
Encouraging sustainable production;
Promotion of a level playing field; Providing resistance to vulnerability, shocks and stress.
“UN Secretary General António Guterres came up with an initiative to hold the Global Food Summit in 2021, and one of the first was fully supported by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 75th session of the UN General Assembly,” said the Deputy Minister of Agriculture for accelerated digitalization of the agrarian sector Kakhramon Yuldashev. – Climate change, which is of global importance today, and food security of the population in the context of the pandemic over the past two years have shown that this is a strategic issue for any country. As for all other states, food security plays an important role in ensuring an independent economy, socio-economic and political stability of our country. In this regard, the Republic of Uzbekistan is taking the necessary organizational, legal, economic and social decisions, as well as systematic measures to implement them. In particular, the “Strategy for the Development of Agriculture for 2020-2030” and other documents on the effective use of land and water resources, the allocation of financial support aimed at the widespread introduction of resource-saving technologies, the creation of a favorable environment for attracting investments, the development of modern formats agricultural activities, in particular clusters and cooperative structures. All this plays an important role in the modernization of the industry and the introduction of market principles. “
The event on 26 May 2021 on the occasion of the first National Dialogue in Tashkent was attended by members of interested ministries and departments, as well as representatives of international and public organizations.
“Dialogues like today’s and conducted by member states are the main component of the 2021 Food System Summit process and an effective format for involving all stakeholders: legislators, producers, distributors, farmers’ associations, the private sector and consumers,” stressed the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. Helena Fraser – It is important that everyone redefines their role in food systems for transformative action towards a healthy and sustainable planet. As a contribution to the work of the Summit, the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, as an authorized body on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of UNDP in Uzbekistan and FAO, will hold a number of national dialogues on food systems in the cities of Nukus and Namangan in order to formulate a national strategy aimed at ensuring sustainable food systems “.
“Consistent with the course of the Government of Uzbekistan, which has committed itself to increasing productivity and creating jobs in the agricultural sector, the UNDP office also prioritizes the development of sustainable agriculture through the promotion of new technologies, green financing and creating an enabling environment, paying particular attention to water resources management. on which all crops depend,” said UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Matilda Dimovska at the event.
The results of the regional and national dialogues will be included in the report of the UN Global Summit on Food Systems.
