The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has highlighted a series of regional initiatives aimed at transforming agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia through stronger cooperation, innovation, and sustainable investment.
Discussions took place during the Thirty-fifth Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe, held in Dushanbe from 11–15 May 2026, where governments, development partners, and experts examined pathways toward more resilient and inclusive food systems.
The conference focused on key themes including digital transformation, sustainable investment, water and resource management, gender equality, and cross-border cooperation. Participants emphasized that many challenges facing the region, such as climate change, water scarcity, and digital inequality, require coordinated regional responses rather than isolated national efforts.
A central message from the discussions was the need to translate policy ideas into practical results through long-term partnerships involving governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and civil society. Country examples from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Türkiye demonstrated how partnership-based approaches can support knowledge sharing and jointly developed solutions across borders.
Investment strategies were also a major focus, with attention on building sustainable value chains and attracting responsible private capital. Initiatives such as FAO’s One Country One Priority Product programme were highlighted as tools to improve transparency, strengthen rural livelihoods, and support agricultural development.
Participants also discussed the growing pressure on shared natural resources, particularly water. As agriculture remains the largest water user in the region, experts stressed the importance of improved data systems, infrastructure investment, and regional cooperation to manage climate-related water stress more effectively.
The role of women and young people in agriculture was strongly emphasized, with calls to strengthen their participation in decision-making and improve access to skills, technology, and resources. Beth Bechdol underscored the importance of inclusive development, noting that rural transformation can only succeed if it benefits all communities equally.
Digital transformation was another key topic, with case studies from countries such as Israel, Lithuania, Spain, and Tajikistan showing how digital tools and infrastructure can improve access to services for farmers. However, experts also warned that digital gaps persist, particularly among women and younger populations in rural areas.
The conference also linked its discussions to broader global agendas, including biodiversity protection ahead of the upcoming COP17 meetings. Participants highlighted the close connection between food systems and biodiversity loss, emphasizing the need to integrate environmental protection into agricultural policy frameworks.
Overall, the FAO regional dialogue reinforced the importance of coordinated action, innovation, and inclusive policies to support the long-term transformation of agrifood systems across Europe and Central Asia.
