Every two years, countries of Europe and Central Asia – a vast and diverse region of more than 50 countries – come together to set the agenda for issues related to food and agriculture. With the approval of José Graziano da Silva, FAO Director-General, it has become official that the next Regional Conference for Europe (ERC) will be hosted by Uzbekistan in early 2020, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said on June 24.
As many as 300 delegates from the Europe and Central Asia region, including high-level country officials and representatives of partner organizations, are expected to visit Tashkent for the three-day conference. It is the highest regional decision-making body for FAO, and what is decided there will shape FAO’s work towards sustainable food and agriculture in 2020–2021 and beyond.
“FAO and Uzbekistan are already strong partners whose cooperation entails a wide project portfolio,” said Nabil Gangi, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia and Secretary of the Regional Conference. “We appreciate the determination of the Government of Uzbekistan to further strengthen and deepen this cooperation through hosting the ERC in May 2020.”
The event’s primary focus will be on promoting healthy diets and preventing all forms of malnutrition, the FAO theme for 2020–2021.
“This is the first time that the FAO Regional Conference for Europe has taken place in Central Asia,” said FAO’s Goran Stavrik, who has been instrumental in organizing the past three conferences, including the 2018 conference held in Voronezh, Russian Federation. “The initial preparations started some months ago, and the team is ready to facilitate the important deliberations of the Member States.”
Decisions made at the Regional Conference set the framework for FAO’s cooperation with its Member Countries in Europe and Central Asia. Recommendations from the Regional Conference are presented at the following FAO General Conference.
