The Thirty‑fifth Session of the Regional Conference for Europe concluded in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on 14 May with the adoption of a joint report by consensus, reflecting a positive spirit among participants. The event brought together over 230 representatives from more than 50 member states, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, academia, and rural youth.
Sustainability was placed at the centre of the agrifood systems agenda, with delegates calling for urgent and coordinated action to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. They emphasized scaling up climate‑resilient and biodiversity‑friendly practices, strengthening local food systems, reducing food loss and waste, and improving soil health. Digital innovation, data‑driven decisions, and early‑warning systems were highlighted as essential tools for transformation.
Delegates also stressed the importance of securing land tenure rights, stronger land governance, and integrated policies across climate, biodiversity, and land‑use agendas. FAO was tasked with providing policy guidance, technical assistance, and fostering regional collaborations and partnerships to support these efforts.
Members agreed that agrifood systems transformation requires a coherent and regionally tailored financing approach that supports climate action, resilience, food security, nutrition, and sustainability. Persistent barriers to finance for smallholders, women, youth, and agricultural enterprises were noted, including limited access to credit and fragmented mechanisms. Delegates called for strategic use of public finance to mobilize private investment, expand blended finance, repurpose subsidies, and align them with sustainability goals.
The Conference also emphasized gender‑transformative and inclusive approaches to address structural inequalities and ensure the participation of women, youth, and vulnerable groups. Digital innovation was encouraged, particularly the responsible use of digital tools to support youth engagement and sustainable agribusiness. Delegates urged FAO to strengthen the humanitarian–development–peace nexus, linking emergency response with recovery and long‑term agrifood systems transformation amid intensifying crises.
The four‑day session included side events and a field trip to Tajikistan’s Almosi Valley, an integrated agropastoral system adapted to mountain conditions, which was recognized as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System last year. The Conference reaffirmed FAO’s role as the highest decision‑making body for Europe and Central Asia, setting the stage for coordinated action to transform agrifood systems across the region.
