The Ministerial Meeting was held within the framework of the international conference "Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture"

The Ministerial Meeting on "Digitalization in Agriculture: The way forward, approaches and best practices for adoption" was held as part of the international conference "Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture".

It was noted at the meeting that the provision of food to about 10 billion people by 2050 using limited and declining natural resources under the pressure of climate change is a real test. Thus, compared to 2019, the area of ​​global agricultural land in 2020 decreased by 3 percent. Against the background of population growth, the per capita sown area decreased by 17% in all regions between 2000 and 2019. Despite the declining trend, total primary production has increased by 53 percent over the years.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Agriculture Inam Karimov said that digital technologies, along with agriculture, are a new opportunity for employment, trade, environment and markets. Since food security and sustainable agriculture are key goals, the bulk of investment is in the transformation of digital and smart agriculture. The main state support mechanisms are aimed at stimulating innovation partners for the application of modern agricultural and horticultural technologies. In addition to encouraging farmers to use digital technologies, they have access to financial resources and training services. At present, the main goal for the coming years is the restoration and reconstruction of the liberated territories, their integration into value chains. The development of these areas, which have been declared Green Energy Zones, is based on the concepts of “smart city” and “smart village”. At the same time, agricultural development policy in these areas will be based on the use of climate-friendly smart technologies.

FAO Director General Qu Dongyu said that digitalization plays an important role in the development of agriculture. The widespread use of digital technologies will not only minimize the gap between rural and urban areas, but will also make a significant contribution to a significant increase in agricultural production and food production.

Speaking at the event, David Nabarro, WHO DG Special Envoy on COVID-19, Pablo Roca Blasco, Director-General of the International Organization of Grape and Wine (OIV), Henryk Kowalczuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Poland, and Oklahoma, USA Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Otar Shamugiya, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova Viorel Gherciu, Minister of Agriculture of Tajikistan Sadi Karimzoda, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Turkey Vahit Kirisci discussed the importance of the application of digital technologies in agriculture, the formation of databases in agriculture, data management in agriculture, the role of digital solutions in production automation, reducing the effects of climate change, increasing productivity and shared their views.

Thus, the international conference "Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture" was ended.