On the invitation of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the ECO Secretary General H.E. Ambassador Khusrav Noziri participated in the Regional Conference on Food Loss and Waste in Europe and Central Asia “Enabling the Change”. The event held on October 5-6, 2022 was jointly organized by FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Tأ¼rkiye, the ECO Regional Centre for Food Security (ECO-RCCFS) and in assistance of the Ministry of Agriculture.
The prime objective of the Conference was to explore ways and means of widening regional and global cooperation aimed at identifying essential elements of enabling environments and tools, including legislative and business innovations, food loss and waste reduction strategies and practical interventions that support the transition to sustainable food value chains. The event mulled over the recent conditions, developments and challenges in food loss and waste within Europe and Central Asia while offering opportunity for interactive exchange of relevant knowledge and exposures, common practices, raising awareness about intricate nature of food loss and waste as well as its impact on value chains, consumers, service providers, environment and sharing doable solutions.
Speaking at the Conference, the ECO Secretary General acknowledged the importance of the event and emphasized on all-inclusive and concerted efforts to address the inflationary trends in food products and the issues of food security. He highlighted some significant aspects of economic problems, impacts of COVID-19 and political escalation on food security that appear to pose severe challenges for the millions of people who are undergoing acute food insecurity and shortage. Underlining the importance of “Black Sea Grain Initiative”, he commended the mediation of the honourable President of Türkiye H.E. Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoؤںan to this end. The agreement is a major step forward to overcoming the global food crisis, the ECO Secretary General noted.
The ECO Secretary General categorically mentioned that the ECO is devotedly committed to the UN 20230 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals, especially its perceived targets to end hunger and poverty, achieve food security, improve nutrition, promote and ensure sustainable agriculture, consumption and production patterns. Moreover, he briefed the forum on ECO Regional Program for Food Security and the institutional transformation of ECO Regional Center for Food Security, summarizing the aims and objectives of these significant and instrumental tools of the Organization.
The Conference also included a rigorous roundtable activity on Food Loss and Waste Reduction in the context of sustainable food systems and Zero Waste Kitchen Workshop at Gastronometro.
