9 August 2021 – The SCO Secretariat together with the FАО Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, the FАО Liaison Office with the Russian Federation, the Moscow State University of Food Production and the Eurasian People’s Assembly held FАО- SCO Independent Dialogue on preparation for the UN Summit on Food Systems in the videoconference format.

This event made а significant contribution to the upcoming UN Summit on Food Systems scheduled in Sерtеmbеr 2021, to bе held in the framework of the Decade оf Action to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. It also contributed to the promotion оf food security issues in the SCO region.

     At the dialogue representatives of embassies, relevant ministries and organisations of the SCO countries discussed aspects related to the functioning and development of national food systems, identified the relevant problematic areas and determined possible ways of addressing them in the SCO region.

     Uzbekistan was represented by Alisher Shukurov, Advisor to the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, National Dialogues Convenor. “The National Dialogues held in Uzbekistan, including sub-national dialogues in different regions, provided an inclusive and supportive venue for debate, collaboration, consensus-building, and shared commitment making”, – Alisher Shukurov noted in his speech, adding that “Uzbekistan is ready to share its experience among the members of the SCO and FAO. We are ready to work together towards to the Summit as well as post Summit process”.

     The event represented opportunity to reach understanding of high importance of interaction between the SCO member states in the field of food systems and ways of their sustainable transformation, to consider the possibilities of enhancing cooperation within the SCO in strengthening trade and domestic food security, providing technical support for ensuring sustainable food systems.