International Forum on Eurasian Food Security Network and Eurasian Soil Partnership

The International Forum on Eurasian Food Security (Agriculture and Nutrition) Network and Eurasian Soil Partnership, held on February 29 - March 2, 2016, in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, presented the opportunity to discuss and analyze current trends in food security management in the Eurasian region and generated discussion on the most appropriate and effective practices to promote and expand multi- and cross-sectoral collaboration on a country, regional and global level. The event was jointly organized by the Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR). Mr. Choduev Erkinbek, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Melioration of the Kyrgyz republic, was the Guest of Honor.

Discussions were held on a new global food system that will play an active role in economic and social development throughout the developing world. “This new food system must be inclusive, nutritious and healthy, climate-smart, sustainable, business-friendly, and productive in order to deliver multiple-win outcomes,” said Dr. Shenggen Fan, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). He also provided an overview of the state of global and regional food security and nutrition, and discussed how to reshape the food system to feed the world healthily and sustainably alongside meeting other development goals.

Several scientists from ICARDA including Dr. Kamel Shideed, Assistant Director General for International Cooperation and Communications, Dr. Richard Thomas, Director of the CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems (CRP-DS), and Dr. Akmal Akramkhanov, ICARDA’s specialist in Land Management were among the conference speakers and panelists. They presented their research findings and successful approaches for tackling many challenges related to the changing consumption patterns and population dynamics, ecological decline and resource scarcity affecting the region of Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC).

Food policy experts and other stakeholders including representatives of Civil Society Organizations, NGOs, Farmers, Women and Youth associations from Eurasian region participated in discussions to identify food security and soil issues and how to tackle them, improving collaboration and cooperation in the Eurasian region. Participants also looked at the barriers to sustainable soil management in Eurasia and possible ways of overcoming them. A new video on Innovation Platforms was launched to raise awareness of effective collaboration approaches among varied stakeholders.

While in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Dr. Shideed together with Dr. Akramkhanov, met Dr. Nurgaziev Rysbek, Rector, Kyrgyz National Agrarian University and his colleagues to discuss the progress of the ongoing collaborative projects and explore new opportunities to strengthen the partnership within the framework of new initiatives in Central Asia region.

Dr. Shideed and Dr. Akramkhanov also visited a farmer’s field and held a meeting with a group of farmers and representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture. This field was formally designated to Kamal, the farmer, as a demonstration/pilot site for the implementation of zero-tillage package in the country, following the provision of a seeder produced in Jordan. The zero-tillage machine was provided within the framework of an IFAD-funded project to ICARDA for Central Asia region regarding knowledge management and dissemination on improved land management.