A group of Uzbek youth recently took part in the World Food Forum (WFF) held from 16 to 20 October at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. The event was supported by the FAO Country Office and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan.
The WFF was established as a platform for experts, changemakers, and leaders of all ages to discuss how to transform agrifood systems and accelerate climate action. It was divided into three fora – the WFF Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum, and the FAO Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum.
The National Youth Delegation of Uzbekistan – Abdusalom Abdurozikov, A’lo Kholmatova, Madina Saidullaeva, Farrukh Ziyodullaev, and Khusniddin Erkulov, all students of the Tashkent State Agrarian University – attended the Global Youth Forum to explore the most effective ways to transform agrifood systems.
The Uzbek delegation also met with Angélica María Jácome Daza, FAO Director for the Office of Small Island Developing States, Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries. During the meeting, they discussed the challenges and opportunities for increasing agrifood systems sustainability in landlocked countries, including Central Asia.
The WFF was an excellent opportunity for youth, farmers, agricultural producers, policymakers, scientists, and investors to come together and talk about global food issues.