With focus on technology and innovation, Central Asian nations can transform agri-food systems: FAO Director-General

With emphasis on science, technology and innovation, Central Asian countries have potential to contribute to agri-food systems transformation and serve as a model for other regions facing similar challenges amid the COVID-19 outbreak, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said.

“The pandemic is giving us a rare opportunity to reset, rethink and redouble our efforts to build forward better and greener, using coordinated approaches that are inclusive, holistic, and coherent,” the Director-General said at the third meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture of Central Asia.

He also alluded to the region’s major potential for setting up innovative models for cooperation fostering out-of-the-box solutions to several common challenges.

The Director-General reiterated the UN food agency’s support to the region with innovative approaches, including FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative.