Nasar Hayat: FAO expands partnership with Azerbaijani government

The partnership between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Azerbaijani government continues to expand, Nasar Hayat, FAO's representative in Azerbaijan, said at the opening ceremony of the 18th Azerbaijan International Agriculture (Caspian Agro) and 30th Anniversary Azerbaijan International Food Industry (InterFood Azerbaijan) exhibitions in Baku.

Report quotes the official as saying FAO has been a partner of the agricultural sector in Azerbaijan for many years: "Today's event is a celebration of people and partnerships driving food security and agricultural development not only in Azerbaijan but also in the region and the world. Just a few months ago, Baku hosted COP29. This was a significant event where world leaders came together to address global challenges such as climate change. Today, we continue the momentum created by that event in our daily work through sustainable food systems, better management of water resources, and climate-adaptive agriculture."

He emphasized that this year marks a proud moment for FAO: "But at the same time, it reaffirms our commitment to innovation, equality and justice, and a world where everyone has access to safe, healthy food. Let's acknowledge that there are serious challenges ahead such as climate change, land degradation, and rural migration. Innovation is the bridge to resilience. It is through resilience that we can create sustainable, just, and strong food systems."

Hayat stated that their joint activities, from efficient irrigation to farmer training and cooperative development, are yielding real results: "These are not just projects. These are investments for our future generations."