The city of Samarkand witnessed the commencement of the International Conference on Food Safety on September 7. The inaugural ceremony featured Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov, who read aloud President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's address to the conference participants. Qu Dongyu, the Director of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), also took the stage to deliver remarks.
This significant conference has been structured around eight global regional initiatives. On its first day, the focus was primarily on tackling hunger, addressing food insecurity and malnutrition, bolstering the productivity and sustainability of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, and alleviating poverty in rural areas. These discussions closely align with FAO's overarching strategy, which aims to ensure the inclusiveness and efficiency of agri-food systems and enhance resilience in the face of various crises and threats.
The event saw the active participation of ministers, diplomats, and distinguished figures from the agricultural sector, representing a diverse array of more than 30 countries. Following the plenary session, attendees were divided into specialized sections to delve deeper into the topics at hand. As the day drew to a close, participants collectively adopted the Samarkand Declaration, encapsulating the key outcomes of these engaging sessions.
This pivotal document lays out the primary avenues for international cooperation. Among the prominent challenges addressed by the parties involved, climate change, the depletion of water resources, and land degradation take center stage.
The Samarkand Declaration serves as a unifying document that crystallizes the agreements reached during the International Conference on Food Security. The conference was orchestrated by the Uzbekistani government with the technical assistance of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
This declaration encompasses the collective aspirations of participating nations, including:
Fostering environmentally sustainable agricultural practices that champion biodiversity while making optimal use of water resources.
Advocating for the promotion of wholesome nutrition, particularly among children and adolescents, and the implementation of comprehensive school feeding programs.
Empowering women residing in rural areas to amplify their contributions to the transformation of agri-food systems.
Advocating for state-level support for small-scale and family-owned farms, extending their access to production, natural resources, and financial support.
The global economy's recent downturn and growth deceleration, coupled with the impacts of the climate emergency, inadequate investments in agri-food systems, surging costs of nutritious foods, and increasing disparities, have veered us off track from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Notably, this includes the crucial SDG 2, which targets the eradication of hunger worldwide.
The conference is set to continue its deliberations on September 8, with an agenda encompassing an even wider spectrum of topics and initiatives.
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