Bilateral meetings were held within the framework of the summit
The 2nd UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4) has begun in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. The event was attended by heads of state and government of the organization's member countries, ministers and deputy ministers of ecology and agriculture, as well as other high-level officials working in the field of environment and food security, and representatives of international organizations.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting of Ministers within the framework of the event, Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov noted that the transformation of food systems is of great importance for the future of humanity against the backdrop of increasing challenges. Stating that climate change and other global challenges pose a threat to agro-food systems, the Minister drew attention to the importance of timely and coordinated action and the necessity of transforming food systems. Minister Majnun Mammadov added that science and innovation should be at the heart of the transformation of agriculture, joint projects should be implemented to promote innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector, technology transfer initiatives and the exchange of best practices between stakeholders should be encouraged.
Minister Majnun Mammadov touched upon the importance of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) held in Baku last November, and stressed that an important agreement on climate finance was reached for the first time in history at this international event successfully organized by Azerbaijan. Minister Majnun Mammadov noted that Azerbaijan supports global efforts towards the transformation of food systems and is ready to cooperate with all partners.
Azerbaijani Minister of Agriculture Majnun Mammadov met with the Ministers of Agriculture of the Republics of Somalia, Ethiopia, Rwanda, as well as Jean-Claude Gakosso, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Republic of the Congo, and Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture of the African Union, within the framework of the Second UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS+4). The meetings discussed issues such as strengthening cooperation and the legal and contractual framework in the agricultural sector with African countries, increasing trade turnover in agricultural and food products, expanding ties between businessmen, evaluating investment opportunities for Azerbaijani entrepreneurs in African countries, transferring modern technologies, cooperation in scientific research and education in the agricultural sector, and supporting each other at the level of international organizations. During the meeting, African officials emphasized that Azerbaijan organized the COP29 event at a high level, that Azerbaijan has achieved great successes in the development of e-government and the transition to digital government, that they are interested in learning our country's experience in this area, and in further developing cooperation in the agricultural sector.
As part of the visit, Minister Majnun Mammadov got acquainted with the activities of the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center and visited experimental planting areas. It was noted that the center conducts research on increasing agricultural productivity, the impact of climate change on agriculture, and improving pest control, and promotes sustainable agricultural practices.
