Baku hosts international conference "Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture" with the participation of FAO Director General

An international conference "Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held at the Gulustan Palace today. The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency Goshgar Tahmazli, Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Qu Dongyu, Director General of the International Grape and Wine Organization (OIV) Pablo Roca Blasco, officials from 14 countries, as well as leaders of 11 influential international organizations.

Opening the event, Inam Karimov said that the COVID-19 pandemic, regional processes, climate change, further restriction of land and water resources pose a threat to global food security: “These challenges have laid the foundation for new international relations to achieve common goals. FAO’s “Hand in Hand”, “Field to Table”, “Health Solidarity Initiative” and other related strategic initiatives are modern guidelines for responding to critical factors affecting food security systems. Azerbaijan joins these initiatives with great enthusiasm and is ready to cooperate effectively on these multilateral platforms. We attach great importance to cooperating with FAO in the framework of the organization's strategies and programs to make the global food security system more sustainable”.

He noted that Azerbaijan is a country with a rapidly developing economy in the region, adding that the main goal is to develop the national food security system by diversifying the economy: “Digitalization is needed in every agricultural sector to make efficient use of limited resources. This change will also allow us to reduce the risks of climate change and adapt. Azerbaijan, in turn, is in the process of transforming the country’s agriculture into modern and digital agriculture. We also use digital technologies for the development of rural areas and their integration into the value chain. In addition, we are contributing to the FAO’s 1000 Digital Villages Initiative by implementing smart village projects in our liberated territories”.

Speaking at the conference, FAO Director General Qu Dongyu touched upon the issues of food security, the creation of a sustainable agricultural system in line with new challenges, increasing productivity by protecting the environment, and global cooperation in these areas. Qu Dongyu said that against the backdrop of global challenges, it is important to build more sustainable food systems to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. “With the widespread use of digital technologies, we can minimize the risks facing agriculture and increase productivity”.

Pablo Roca Blasco, Director General of the International Organization of Grape and Wine (OIV), said the digitalization process was creating new challenges. The application of digital technologies will allow agribusiness to adapt to climate change, the efficiency of production processes by changing the shape of the value chain. At the same time, taking into account the characteristics of dynamically evolving digital technologies, traditional methods in the production process, the identification of new potentials in accordance with existing challenges should be considered on the basis of scientific principles.

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev said that agriculture is one of the most strategic sectors of the Azerbaijani Economy paves the way for inclusive agriculture: “The use of water-saving technologies and the efficient management of agricultural land and pastures are critical to adapting to the effects of climate change. A major return to the liberated territories and the introduction of “smart village” and “green agriculture” approaches will directly contribute to the country’s food security goals. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources together with the Ministry of Agriculture has developed a long-term Joint Action Program to support "Green Agriculture". The program envisages mitigation of negative impacts on the environment, reduction of greenhouse gases, establishment of agro-gardens, efficient use of water, land and forest resources, protection of biodiversity, ecosystems, support for aquaculture and organic agriculture, and strengthening institutional capacity.

Chairman of the Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency Goshgar Tahmazli spoke about the work done in our country to ensure food security, improve the quality of food and increase export potential. He stressed that the application of digital solutions in the field of food security in Azerbaijan, as well as around the world, creates new opportunities. In this area, the replacement of traditional control systems with modern technologies, digital and innovative solutions plays an important role in building a more effective system.

After the speeches, a video reflecting the development of sustainable and inclusive agricultural systems in Azerbaijan was shown. Then, FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero made a presentation on “Digital technologies for the sustainable transformation of agro-food systems”, Director of the Agrarian Science and Innovation Center Akbar Abbasov on “Electronic agriculture – Azerbaijan’s experience in digitization of agricultural systems”.

After the presentations, the conference participants took a photo.

Then a meeting was held between Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov and Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Qu Dongyu. It was noted that agriculture plays an important role in the development of the non-oil sector at the meeting in our country. It was stressed that the development of the agrarian sector is a priority, state support for agricultural development and reforms in this direction were brought to attention. Prospects for further development of cooperation in the field of agriculture were also discussed at the meeting.

During the conference, Azerbaijani Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov met with Georgian Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Otar Shamugiya. The sides exchanged views on opportunities for cooperation in the field of agriculture, and expressed confidence that this cooperation will be further developed in accordance with the existing potential.

The conference is being continued with panel sessions.