On May 6, a conference on “Modern agrarian cooperation as a foundation for sustainable development and a guarantee of food security” was held at the Baku Expo Center as part of the 19th Azerbaijan International Agricultural Exhibition (Caspian Agro Week). The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey İbrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia David Songulashvili, officials of relevant state agencies of the participating countries, representatives of companies operating in the agricultural sector, scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs.
The conference featured panel discussions on various areas of agriculture. The first panel session within the event was dedicated to the topic “Food security in the context of climate, economic and security challenges: differences and similarities of regional perspectives”.
Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov provided detailed information to the participants of the event on the main directions of the agrarian development strategy in our country, state support for the agrarian sector, and innovative projects being implemented. The Minister noted that ensuring the sustainability of agriculture is of great importance not only for ensuring food security, but also for ensuring employment in rural areas and balanced regional development. In Azerbaijan, consistent and systematic measures are being taken to transform agriculture into modern and digital agriculture and develop rural areas, and state support measures in the agrarian sector are being expanded: “The Azerbaijani government is investing significantly in the development of climate-resistant agricultural and food systems. A significant part of these investments is directed at digitalization, climate-friendly and smart agriculture. Our state support mechanisms further encourage innovation partnerships aimed at the application of modern agricultural and horticultural technologies. In addition, the liberated territories of Azerbaijan, which have been declared green energy zones, are being reconstructed in accordance with the concepts of "smart cities" and "smart villages", and climate-friendly agricultural policy is an integral part of this development.”
Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry İbrahim Yumaklı highlighted the work being done to establish climate-friendly agriculture in his country. The minister stressed that climate change, drought and increasing pressure on water resources will be a serious challenge for all countries in the future. He said that it is important to strengthen regional cooperation mechanisms to solve these problems.
Uzbek Minister of Agriculture Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov noted that climate change, geopolitical risks and logistics problems have a serious impact on the agricultural sector. He emphasized that his country has implemented extensive reforms to increase productivity and introduce water-saving technologies. Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov added that in order to create and develop sustainable agriculture, special attention should be paid not to profitability in the agricultural sector, but to environmental protection and efficient use of resources. He noted that Uzbekistan is interested in expanding cooperation with partner countries in the field of agriculture and logistics.
David Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, provided information on the current situation in the agricultural sector in his country, implemented and planned measures, and touched upon the importance of developing cooperation in the agricultural sector.
Then, a panel session was held on the topic “The role of logistics in the interaction of agricultural and food systems: routes, corridors leading to the well-being of nations and their security”. The speakers who spoke at the panel session shared their views on the current state of agricultural systems, the transition to sustainable agricultural production systems, stable food supply, inclusive agri-food policies, the expansion of the application of digital solutions and technologies, technology transfer in this field, sharing of best practices, trade in agricultural products and logistics opportunities, and held discussions on the topic.
Within the framework of the conference, a Memorandum of Understanding on strategic cooperation was signed between the Ministry of Agriculture and the US company "John Deere Walldorf International GmbH". The document was signed by the Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov and the Vice President of the CIS of "John Deere" Peter Sachse. The memorandum envisages expanding strategic cooperation in the field of agriculture, introducing innovative technologies, and promoting modern solutions in the agricultural sector.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), a specialized agency of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held an official signing ceremony. The document was signed by Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov. After the document is ratified, Azerbaijan will become a member of the Islamic Organization for Food Security. Azerbaijan's accession to this organization will primarily serve to further strengthen food security at the national level. For our country, this membership opens up new opportunities for the exchange of advanced practices, innovative technologies and scientific knowledge. At the same time, membership in the organization will play an important platform in terms of expanding international cooperation in the areas of increasing agricultural productivity, efficient use of resources and adaptation to climate change.
