Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan hosted a pivotal National Workshop on Green Agriculture, organized under the FAO TCP/RER/3906 project on Scaling up Green Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia. This workshop marked a significant step in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation, following a series of initiatives aimed at advancing green agriculture throughout Europe and Central Asia.

Agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, face mounting pressures from climate change, deforestation, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and geopolitical uncertainties. These factors disrupt food supply chains and threaten food security, underscoring the urgent need to transform agrifood systems into more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable models. Transitioning to green agriculture is critical to mitigating climate impacts, improving productivity, and ensuring long-term food security, while addressing both environmental and socioeconomic risks.

The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia took a leading role in this effort by launching the Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture in May 2022. This platform facilitates knowledge-sharing and collaboration across various technical domains connected to sustainable agricultural practices. Building on this foundation, the Regional Project “Scaling-up Green Agriculture in Europe and Central Asia”, launched in 2023, enhances regional capacities and provides coordination on scientific research related to green agriculture. The project also promotes intra-regional and inter-regional collaboration, leveraging digital tools to maximize the potential for green agriculture adoption.

The Regional Technical Platform has become a central hub for knowledge exchange and networking among expert communities, supporting the transition to sustainable agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia. Green policies, supported by scientific evidence and cross-sectoral coordination, play a critical role in promoting sustainable agricultural practices, improving resource efficiency, and enhancing policy coherence. The development of resilient agrifood systems is essential for achieving food security and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The National Workshop on Green Agriculture in Tashkent aimed to introduce green agriculture as a multidisciplinary framework, supporting Uzbekistan’s green economy strategy. The workshop also sought to assess the country’s capacity development needs and identify next steps for Uzbekistan’s transition to green agriculture, with the objective of establishing a National Technical Network.

Workshop participants reviewed national green policies, incorporating best practices and lessons from neighboring countries. The consensus was reached on the establishment of a National Technical Network to promote and advance green agriculture in Uzbekistan. This network will integrate insights from the Regional Technical Platform and lessons learned from across the Europe and Central Asia region.

Attendees included FAO representatives, state bodies, NGOs, private firms, universities, and sectoral unions. Key stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, and other relevant institutions, also participated.

The workshop featured presentations from key experts:

Tania Santivanez, FAO's Lead Technical Officer, outlined the principles of green agriculture and its relevance to Uzbekistan’s agrifood systems.

Zsuzsanna Keresztes, an expert in climate-resilient agricultural practices, discussed the digital platform that will foster regional knowledge-sharing and collaboration. This platform is designed to maximize the potential of green agriculture across Europe and Central Asia (FAO Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture).

Jakhongir Babadjanov, a national policy expert, provided a comprehensive analysis of green policies and proposed a strategic roadmap for Uzbekistan's green agriculture development.

Aziz Rasulov, an expert on green agriculture, made a presentation on the issues of efficient use of water and energy resources and thereby ensuring food security.

The Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture, launched by FAO, continues to serve as a digital hub for interregional knowledge exchange, driving forward the green agriculture agenda. By leveraging the digital potential of the platform, FAO is helping to bridge technical capacity gaps, promote scientific research, and develop well-functioning networks that support sustainable agricultural transformations across Europe and Central Asia.

Jakhongir Babadjanov, a national policy expert, emphasized that "The National Workshop in Uzbekistan builds on regional efforts and tailors the platform’s successes to the local context. Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector faces severe challenges due to climate change and environmental degradation. Adopting green agriculture practices is essential to ensuring long-term sustainability. This workshop emphasizes the need for coherent green policies, collaboration, and innovative solutions to strengthen Uzbekistan’s agrifood systems, contributing to both food security and environmental sustainability."

For more information about the FAO Regional Technical Platform on Green Agriculture, visit https://www.fao.org/platforms/green-agriculture/en