Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, and the Agriculture Ministry of Uzbekistan, hosted the Inception workshop on the “Food Systems, Land Use, and Restoration Impact Program (GCP/UZB/010/GFF)” project. The event took place on September 13 in Tashkent and brought together various government ministries and international organizations.

The workshop aims to put a particular emphasis on project’s priorities in transforming Uzbekistan’s agricultural landscapes while tackling key environmental and climate challenges. Promoting the widespread adoption of efficient land management technologies, inclusive wheat-based production, and conservation practices while fostering green value chains to drive the transition from ecosystem degradation to sustainable, multi-benefit management remains the core objective.

The project's launch represents a significant step for the state toward sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation, in alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Increasing agricultural demands, coupled with low productivity in the agri-food sector, are responsible for 80 percent of global deforestation, 70 percent of global freshwater withdrawal, a major driver of landscape degradation and biodiversity loss, and nearly 30 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. These challenges pose a threat to food security, nutrition, poverty reduction, and broader socioeconomic progress. Given Uzbekistan’s extreme continental climate, with its hot summers, dry conditions, and variable temperatures, the country faces unique agricultural hurdles. Desert soils, characterized by low organic matter and poor structural properties, limit agricultural productivity.

“The project aims to boost wheat production productivity while minimizing negative impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity and expanding the production and distribution chain. It will be carried out in six districts across three regions of the Republic. As part of the project, modern equipment will be installed in reserves to mitigate the adverse effects caused by residents of nearby villages. Additionally, one of the project’s goals is to identify the sources of increased dust storms in recent years and to develop strategies to prevent them. Another important focus of the project is to conduct capacity-building activities for our farmers. By providing farmers with training and resources. Another important component of the project is to conduct capacity-building activities for the project farmers and beneficiaries. We provide them the knowledge and tools they need to implement sustainable farming practices.” said Aziz Nurbekov, national coordinator of the project.

Worth noting, that the project territory encompasses six districts in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as the Khorezm and Kashkadarya regions. Under the project, ecological restoration will be undertaken on 50,000 hectares of land, another 50,000 hectares will adopt enhanced biodiversity management practices, and 300,000 hectares of wheat-growing land will be transitioned to improved land management methods.

The inception workshop plays a critical role in setting the foundation for the project's successful implementation and its contribution to Uzbekistan’s broader environmental and agricultural development strategies.