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Action track #4 advance equitable livelihoods • It is essential to strengthen the standardisation of food supply, such as international standards like ISO, and educate farmers about this knowledge. With proper standardization, we can be more competitive in the international market. • Great care must be taken to identify the location of the problem and plan appropriately. For example, we need to systematise food processing production because water resources are going to be low this year. In Karakalpakstan, even though we have seen that wheat planting has not progressed at all due to fertili... قراءة المزيدty problems, the Government is still forcing farmers to plant wheat. This is a big mistake and a problem with the plan. We need to look at the problem and categorise the chain of command, taking an informed approach. قراءة القليل

Action track #5 build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress • Ensuring that farmers have the freedom to choose what to grow, where to grow it, whom to sell it to, and at what price, is an urgent issue for Uzbekistan. The more economic freedom the manufacturing sector has, the more stable and sustainable the economy will be. In order to achieve economic freedom, knowledge is necessary. We would like to request the donor community to support this matter. • Food supply reservation storage must be improved immediately to provide enough food for the population. Due to improper storag... قراءة المزيدe and mismanagement of the reservation system, we have failed to provide enough food for the population. For instance, this year we had a problem with potato supply, and next year will be onions. I hope the respective agency takes necessary action to address these events. قراءة القليل

The Dialogue began with a brief overview of the two sub-national dialogues conducted in Nukus and Namangan. Based on the 5 Action Tracks –1) Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all; 2) Shift to sustainable consumption patterns; 3) Boost nature-positive production; 4) Advance equitable livelihoods; 5) Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress— the issues identified and suggestions proposed were presented to all participants to consolidate country-level commitments and actions and shape the pathway to a sustainable national food system for the coming decade. In the nex... قراءة المزيدt session, the international donor organizations in Uzbekistan, including the European Union (EU), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), presented their diverse roles and activities within sustainable food systems and reconfirmed their commitment to supporting agriculture and food industries in Uzbekistan. The EU emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships to take on ambitious goals and targets, focusing on the newly adopted Strategy of modernization of the food sector 2020-2030. The EU also highlighted the necessity for Uzbekistan to develop a quality supply chain to be more competitive in the export market. As agriculture is an essential part of Uzbekistan’s economy, the EU introduced a Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) in April 2021, a special incentive for sustainable development and good governance. JICA underlined four major projects in the agricultural sector, focusing on developing innovative climate resilient technologies for monitoring/controlling water use efficiency for crop productivity in the Aral Sea Region. To target more small-scale farmers, JICA also prepared new procedures by utilizing counterpart funds, such as IFAD's loan schemes for small households and the National Farmers' Councils Fund. USAID explained the forthcoming five-year agribusiness development project, which will run from June 2025. USAID will introduce innovative business management practices and co-finance investments in new technologies to support farmers and agribusinesses to produce and add value to safe, quality, and environmentally sound agricultural products. USAID also offered the opportunity of a first agribusiness development fund. It allocated 2 million USD to support Uzbek agribusiness by co-financing and investing in new technologies. IsDB delivered a radical transformation of their business model; "from the bank of development to bank of the developer," to achieve sustainable food systems and catalyze investment in the agriculture sector. IsDB also provided an overview of the Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Policy and explained that to mainstream the strategy into IsDB operation related to the agricultural system and agriculture sector it will seek strong connections with member countries in various sectors. In the thematic discussion session, the floor was open to all participants, and a diverse array of stakeholders, including those involved in food hygiene, academic research, and law contributed the Dialogue and explored options for collective action. Joint work on the formulation of proposals and recommendations was conducted, taking into account the results of all stages, for further submission to the organizing committee to the Summit. In the concluding remarks, the Government of Uzbekistan highlighted that the multi-stakeholder Dialogue process would continue in the country even after the culmination of the global Food Systems Summit in September. Cognizant of existing strong food system cooperation internally and externally, the Government also underlined Uzbekistan's continuous commitment to demonstrating leadership in the forthcoming global dialogue session. The outcomes of the dialogues will contribute to the national food systems transformation pathway in the coming months and years. قراءة القليل

Role of International Development Organizations in Sustainability of the Food Systems in Uzbekistan European Union (EU) • The EU emphasised the importance of strengthening partnerships to take on ambitious goals and targets, focusing on the newly adopted Strategy of modernization of the food sector 2020-2030, the foundation of their cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture. • As of March 2020, Uzbekistan liberalised the cotton market; the EU strongly supported this decision as a significant step toward ending child and forced labour in the country's cotton harvest. • The EU also high... قراءة المزيدlighted the necessity for Uzbekistan to develop a quality supply chain to be more competitive in the export market. As agriculture is an essential part of Uzbekistan’s economy, the EU started a Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus (GSP+) in April 2021. It slashes tariffs to 0% for vulnerable low and lower-middle-income countries that implement 27 international conventions related to human rights, labour rights, protection of the environment and good governance. • Last year, the EU developed two essential strategies on food security and nutrition and introducing an information and statistic systems into the agri-food sector. • In cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Education, the EU also focuses on skills development in the agricultural sector by introducing new technology and an agricultural knowledge information system. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) • JICA presented four major projects within the agricultural sector: 1) technical cooperation through the international joint research project: "Development of Innovative Climate resilient technologies for Monitoring Controlling of Water Use Efficiency and Impact of Salinization on Crop Productivity and Livelihood in Aral Sea Region" to establish a sustainable & internal-circular agriculture business model and improve resilience in small scale farmers. 2) grass-roots technical cooperation: "Improvement of Apple Cultivation Technology and Dissemination to the Farmers," which provided several workshops and training courses on Pilot orchards, apple trees, speed sprayers, refrigerators and other equipment. 3) grant aid: "the project for improvement of Locust Management (Phase 2)," which involves regional cooperation between the six Central Asian countries. 4) a loan programme: "Horticulture Value Chain Promotion Project" including credit Loans (a two-step loan to end-users, horticulture farmers and agriculture companies for processing, storage and logistics), and consulting services (capacity building for PFIs and technical assistance for end-users). • In order to target more small-scale farmers, JICA is preparing to introduce new procedures by utilising counterpart funds, such as IFAD's loan schemes for small households and the National Farmers' Councils Fund. United States Agency for International Development (USAID) • The new USAID five-year project; agribusiness development activity will run from June 2025. • It will introduce innovative business practices and co-finance investment for new technology to support farmers and agribusiness to produce and add value through safe, quality, and environmentally sound agricultural products, promoting access to new markets, and increasing sales and employment. • It also focuses on building skills among women and youth to launch their agribusiness and secure technical and management level jobs for them. USAID is partnering with the Uzbek agricultural University and institute to introduce a new practical curriculum and with the Ministry of Agriculture and private sector agricultural extension service providers to build skills and capacity that directly address farmers' needs. • Last week, USAID launched the first agribusiness development fund. It allocated 2 million USD to support Uzbek agribusiness by co-financing and investing in new technologies. Uzbek enterprise and/or non-governmental organization are eligible, and applicants must be covered by a minimum of 50% of the total cost of the project. Details are available here. Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) • Agriculture and Rural Development Sector Policy is a10-Year Strategy developed by IsDB. It is aguiding tool for IsDB investment in its Member Countries and it applies to all IsDB-financed projects. The policy provides a platform for synergies to promote sustainable, resilient, and equitable agriculture and rural development through the development of viable and profitable agriculture value chains and by promoting innovative Islamic finance. It has the following three objectives: 1) alleviate poverty and enhance food security; 2) enhance public–private partnerships towards the overall aim of sustainable, inclusive and equitable agriculture and rural development; and 3) create rural employment opportunities both in agriculture and the rural non-farming economy. • Under this policy, IsDB is undertaking a radical transformation of its business model to achieve sustainable food systems and catalyze investment in the agriculture sector. • IsDB is shifting to promote inclusive private sector participation, access to market and finance instruments and building human institutional capacity. • IsDB recognises that growth is essential for poverty reduction, and science, technology, and innovation are key to transforming Uzbekistan's agricultural food security system. • Uzbekistan can contribute to agricultural transformation and serve as a model for other countries, such as the horticulture value chain development project in the Aral Sea Region. قراءة القليل

Action track #1 ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all • It is essential to provide healthy and nutritious food for all populations. Recognising the high malnutrition level in Uzbekistan, more effort is required to improve education on health and nutrition by providing capacity building. It is also necessary to diversify agricultural products from the past monoculture approach that relies on the mass production of cotton and to produce organic foods by improving harvesting, logistics, and the marketing of agriculture. In this context, the recent expansion of horticulture, and the ... قراءة المزيدdevelopment of greenhouses is noteworthy. In order to provide the population with nutritious foods and a robust value chain, we need support from international donors and IFIs and should pay close attention to different areas of development. • Developing behaviors that contribute to a healthy lifestyle is vital. The current culture of consumption and irrational food product usage should change, starting from primary education up to higher levels. We have to work with the population to strengthen awareness-raising. For instance, our festive customs usually involve inviting many guests for meals, but efforts will need to be made to provide healthier and more nutritious meals instead of the current oil- and meat-heavy diet. We also have to work with food producers to improve the quality of products which are served in cafeterias and restaurants. • Proper food waste management needs should be improved through logistics, including access to transportation agencies. Current efforts should be scaled up. Waste products from households should be properly collected as solid waste, and the introduction of proper waste sorting is an urgent task. Establishment and capacity building of a specialised agency to properly sort and dispose of waste is required. • We also need to rethink the way we advertise unhealthy products such as energy drinks and junk food. For instance, the U.S. Service for Agriculture Development provides health food certification from a specialised lab. قراءة القليل

Action track #2 shift to sustainable consumption patterns • It is critical to transform farms to produce green and ecological products without using excessive pesticides to meet international standards and increase competitiveness in the market. Food processing enterprises, farmers and retails, including different food producers, restaurants, and cafeterias have to provide and maintain proper hygiene conditions to meet international standards. Furthermore, proper food management, including food disposal and expired food control, must be improved. • There was an intensive discussion about t... قراءة المزيدrans fats usage. On 10 November 2020, the Government adopted regulation No.4780 and the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Economy and Poverty Reduction, and the Ministry of Finance are working to implement it.. A new set of standards for used cooking oil usage has been introduced based on this newly drafted law. Starting from 2021, the use of trans fats in the food manufacturing processes as well as the import of food items should be limited. The law introduced a ban on the import of items manufactured using used cooking oils in food production in Uzbekistan. If the company starts importing them, it will be a violation of legislation and sanctions will be imposed. Not only Uzbekistan, but the whole of academia has identified the negative consequences of using trans fats. The trans fats in the food industry and their import will be banned by 2025, regardless whether this is in raw materials or finished materials. قراءة القليل

Action track #3 boost nature- positive Production • As today's agricultural production processes are often undercover, it is necessary to involve the entire value chain to further promote organic farming efforts. We have to improve irrigation, taking into account the analysis of the soil level of precipitation and provide proper safety mechanisms. The greenhouse's water-saving technology and qualitative infrastructure are also essential to protecting plants from different diseases, insects, and pests. • In terms of legislation, food quality and safety are subject to different international... قراءة المزيد standards, conventions, and agreements, and confusing them can cause problems. For example, the WHO has an agreement on hygiene measures, which includes food security, pesticides, microbiology, and animal diseases. Food security mainly relates to human health with regard to biological and chemical hazards, and there are also international standards for food security parameters. Although there are reporting requirements for member countries for each area of information, Uzbekistan's commitment is limited due to the limited data collection capacity of the industry, and we hope that this will change in the future. Fortunately, however, there is no need to start from scratch; standards already exist. We need a unified national policy and strategy for the agricultural sector, integrating everything and functional changes at the national legal level. قراءة القليل

The following suggestions were presented; • Conduct an assessment to determine the level of needs of low-income families. The assessment should distinguish between three levels of need and help build strategies to provide aid for families in these three levels. • Establish a supervision system to determine to whom subsidies and benefits will be allocated and how this aid is being utilized (to understand if it was effective/inefficient). • Support exemptions from taxes and other utility bills for low-income families to ensure these families can afford proper nutrition. • Create capacity... قراءة المزيد building seminars for low-income families that will help them develop entrepreneurship and support themselves in the future. • Legal protection for low-income families should be established. قراءة القليل

• Debt to the next generation While many wish lists were put forward, it is necessary to secure adequate financial resources to implement these sustainable food systems ideas. Particularly, many participants suggested investing the money in sustainable agricultural techniques, such as organic cultivators and agroecological practices, and increasing subsidies to small-scale farmers. However, it is also important to recognize that we are saddling the next generation with a huge debt, even if it is to build sustainable food systems. In order to secure financial resources, it is inevitable to bo... قراءة المزيدrrow money. Therefore, we need to have a clear strategy for debt repayment and a return on investment strategy. If we fail to create a system where debt for future generations will always have a positive effect, we will just add to the next generation's burden. • Lack of guidance on crop rotation Crop rotation is a sustainable farming practices in which the same land is used to grow different crops in successive seasons or years to prevent erosion and increase the fertility of the land. Since the effects have been scientifically proven, the Government recommends crop rotation, such as soybeans, grains and corns. However, while the logic itself is very rational, the production of soybeans requires specific machinery, which is also the case for grain and corn cultivation. To make matters worse, a single farmer may not know the best way to grow each individual crop well. Even a sustainable and reasonable policy requires detailed support tailored to the needs and circumstances of local people. • Technology and environmental issue Much of the agricultural technology and machinery in use today are already outdated, which negatively impacts on the environment, including the increase of carbon emissions and waste products. While it is essential to introduce new agricultural machinery in the future, it is impossible to replace it all at once. Thus, it is important to balance the impact on the environment and cost of the modern machinery. We need to think about how we can improve productivity and reduce environmental impact at the same time. • Quality issues for the vulnerable community’s support Although several aid programmes have already been provided to vulnerable communities, a lack of educational opportunities has prevented low-income families from fully utilizing aid benefits. For instance, a family receives a greenhouse to grow lemons as a part of the aid programme. However, the family does not have enough knowledge to grow lemons. Therefore, a careful needs assessment is essential to respond to the various needs and different income levels of vulnerable communities. Inter-sectoral coordination and cooperation need to accelerate further to prevent the redundancy of similar projects and to share knowledge and expertise. قراءة القليل

The Dialogue began with a brief overview of the Agriculture Development Strategy of Uzbekistan for 2020-2030, sharing nine priority areas identified by the Government; 1) Food security for the population, 2) Natural resource use for environmental protection, 3) Development of agricultural sciences, education, information and counselling services, 4) Convenient agribusiness to improve value chains, 5) Modernizing the Public administration systems, 6) Development of Rural Areas, 7) Reducing State intervention and increasing investment, 8) Diversifying government spending, and 9) Development of a... قراءة المزيد transparent system of statistics. One of the highlights of this new strategy is to introduce indicators to monitor progress. In the thematic discussion session, participants were divided into five groups based on the five Action Tracks; 1) Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all; 2) Shift to sustainable consumption patterns; 3) Boost nature-positive production; 4) Advance equitable livelihoods; 5) Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress. They explored options for collective action that can contribute via national pathways to sustainable food systems. The first action track (Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all) focused on the challenges on the local consumption model and diet, particularly on the excessive intake of palm oils and junk foods among the young population. Issues of food management regarding expired food oversight and shortage of cold storage facilities were also identified. As a way forward, the group proposed strengthening awareness-raising activities to change perceptions and create good habits around balanced healthy diets and proper nutrition among youth and children, as well as establishing a food inspection monitoring system. The second action track (Shift to sustainable consumption patterns) focused attention on the importance of needs assessment in vulnerable communities as well as food waste management. The group suggested developing a responsive, inclusive policy for vulnerable communities, such as providing subsidies and reducing food transportation costs by improving the productivity of the food value chain. The third action track (Boost nature-positive production) identified issues on unsustainable soil productivity, water resource management, disposal of food packaging, and outdated agricultural machinery that causes adverse environmental effects instead of efficiency. The group offered various proposals to preserve scarce resources, including the use of natural fertilizers, drip irrigation systems, proper disposal labelling, and eco-friendly certification. The fourth action track (Advance equitable livelihoods) addressed how to respond to various needs and ensure inclusiveness by providing uniform support. The group was concerned about farmers who do not have freedom of choice due to the monopoly of the market by several enterprises and the state procurement system. The current situation in which uniform aid does not reflect the needs of the people also causes problems. The group suggested providing capacity building training for farmers based on their preference and skills and provide various suppliers and product options that the farmers can purchase based on their needs. The fifth action track (Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress) took particular note of social and economic support for low-income families and aid effectiveness. The group emphasized the importance of conducting needs assessment and developing evidence-based policy for the effective supporting mechanisms. Furthermore, they suggested establishing an oversight system for the proper allocation and utilization of subsidies and benefits to maximize aid efficiency. قراءة القليل

1. Action track #1 Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all The following issues were identified with regards to affordable and safe food products; • The intensive use of palm oil in food products leads to long-term health-related issues for the population. Due to its low price and ease of use, palm oil has become widely popular among local people without an understanding of its side effects. • Perceptions on balanced healthy diets, proper nutrition, especially among the youth and children, are poorly formed. Questions related to the importance of food safety and how to maintain a... قراءة المزيد healthy diet often arise. Moreover, the media does not conduct enough healthy food marketing campaigns and awareness-raising activities. • Considering the statement above, excessive consumption of carbonated drinks, chips, crackers, and other unhealthy foods is prevalent in children. Advertisements for these types of foods contribute directly to this trend. The negative impact that television advertising plays on young people's preoccupation with junk food is significant. • Expired products are commonplace in the market, and the inspection control mechanism is not functioning well. As a result, there have been many cases of food poisoning. • The harvest from farms needs to be sold right away, as there is not enough efficient refrigeration equipment to store farm products for more extended periods without compromising their quality. 2. Action track #2 Shift to sustainable consumption patterns The following issues were identified with regards to strengthening the consumption value chain; • While there are currently several support measures in place for vulnerable communities, they are one-size-fits-all and do not reflect the diverse needs of these communities due to a lack of needs assessment among vulnerable communities. This type of assessment could help establish evidence-based policies that reflect their needs and support them effectively to gain access to nutritious foods. • The supply chain process of food production has resulted in a large amount of food waste, which in turn drives up the price of food. • Much food loss is also caused by the lack of proper food storage, especially freezing storage, during the harvest season, which prevents the food from maintaining its freshness. 3. Action track #3 Boost nature- positive Production The following issues were identified with regards to the nature-positive production process; • Since many farmers are using excessive chemical fertilizers and overly cultivating their lands, it is essential to encourage effective land use and conversion to organic fertilizers. • Unsustainable water management and use, particularly in the irrigation process. • Much of the agricultural technology and machinery in use today is already outdated, which negatively impacts on the environment, including an increase in emissions and waste products. • Proper package handling of food products needs to be improved to ensure safety in the food transportation process. On the other hand, inappropriate handling and mass disposal of food packages are also a constant, uncontrolled problem. • Limited amount of land, and no authorization for sowing. 4. Action track #4 Advance equitable livelihoods The following issues were identified with regards to equitable value distribution; • As education and capacity building opportunities provided for farmers are predominantly export market-based, they do not reflect local needs. • Farmers cannot promptly purchase some products for processing (such as fertilizers). There is also a limited variety of products a farmer can purchase, and sometimes they depend on one supplier only. • Although local farmers should have the freedom to decide for themselves to whom they will sell the food they produce, most of their crops are sold to clusters. In a market economy, they should not be forced to sell only to clusters and the state procurement system. • There is a difference in income among various population groups, and we should actively seek methods of reducing this income gap. 5. Action track #5 Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress The following issues were identified with regards to support for vulnerable groups; • Lack of educational opportunities for low-income families in the region leads them to not fully utilize the aid provided. For instance, a family receives a greenhouse to grow lemons as a part of the aid programme. However, the family does not have knowledge on growing lemons. Without careful planning consideration of aid programmes, the aid cannot benefit vulnerable communities. • Insufficient financing opportunities for low-income families. • The supply base for vulnerable communities is not developed. • There is no efficient system for supporting low-income families. قراءة القليل

1. National Food Security System The dialogue convener underlined three urgent major issues: • The urgent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural waste. While Uzbekistan emitted 32,423 gigagram greenhouse gas in 2017, a reduction of 5.53%, they revised the target to achieve a 10% reduction by 2021, which still poses a challenge. • Further improvement of the hunger level. In the 2020 Global Hunger Index, Uzbekistan ranked 30th out of 107 countries with sufficient data to calculate the 2020 GHI score. Since 2000, Uzbekistan has achieved low levels of hunger – 6.7%, down fro... قراءة المزيدm 24.4%. • The recent dramatic growth of food imports from foreign countries has caused various issues in Uzbekistan. In 2020, food imports amounted to $1,750.7 million and 4,794.4 thousand products, mainly from Russia, Kirgizstan, Belarus, China and Malaysia. Law and institutional systems must be streamlined to integrate international standards and strengthen import policy. Based on nine priority areas in the agriculture development strategy, the Government set the following indicators and action points to address food system challenges. 1) Food Security: Increase the productivity of the average crop of cereal grains by 17 %; Increase total crop areas containing fodder crops by 1.1 %; Improve the average milk yield. 2) Favourable Agribusiness Environment: Increase the share of export from agricultural enterprises by 14 %; Improve village farming and strengthen the "Made in Uzbekistan" brand; Improve Uzbekistan's ranking (117) in 2018 in the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index (LPI); Increase the share of processed products by 21.1%; Increase workers from the food industry by 3 %. 3) Reduction of State Intervention and Promotion of Investment: Improve the ranking of 77 out of 101 countries in the World Bank EVA index; Increase capital investment (2021 exceeded the target for the year). 4) Improve Natural resources usage: Increase farmland by 1.0 million hectares; Increase farmland water-saving technologies by 2.3%; Reduce the percentage of saline soils; Increase Forest areas to 3.4 million hectares; Increase angiosperm land area by 39%. 5) Modernize Public administration systems: Proceed with the ongoing agricultural reform and strengthen accountability as per new Presidential Decrees; Revise the structure of state enterprises; Privatize public enterprises and accelerate the legal process. 6) Diversify government spending: Increase agriculture research costs by 0.0015%; Increase loans to $ 900 million; Strengthen medium-term budgeting. 7) Develop agricultural sciences, education, information and counselling services: raise the number of graduates who engage in agribusiness by 24 %; Increase farmers' access to advice and services by 5%; Increase the number of farmers who are satisfied with knowledge dissemination services and information counselling centres by 5%. 8) Development of Rural areas: Increase the number of manufactures (micro-firms) in rural areas by 57.8%; Increase the number of Women producers in rural areas by 8 %; Increase youth involvement in product development in rural areas by 8%. 9) Development of a transparent system of statistics: Improve the national statistics system, including agriculture food statistics. As outcomes of the national food security system overview, the Government of Uzbekistan will implement the following actions by the end of 2021. • Introduce a supply market mechanism for plant protection and mineral fertilizer by April 2021. • Initiate a food safety and national consumption programme by September 2021. • Create transparent mechanisms for the lease of land plots by September 2021. • Conduct climate change analysis and software development by December 2021. • Initiate a digital agriculture integration platform (e-agriculture uz) by December 2021. In order to achieve these ambitious targets, the Government emphasizes the importance of multi-stakeholder engagement. Moreover, Uzbekistan seeks to demonstrate strong initiative and leadership in the upcoming global dialogue session, cognizant of existing strong food system cooperation, internal and external. قراءة القليل

2. Action track #1 ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all The following suggestions were presented; • Introduce widespread media coverage on topics related to proper nutrition, promotion of healthy foods and balanced diets. Restrict excessive advertising of unhealthy foods, such as carbonated drinks, junk foods and allow more space for advertising natural farm producers and products. Awareness raising campaigns and education programmes in schools with a focus on local context is also essential, particularly for the younger generation. • Research the harm and benefits of palm oil... قراءة المزيد. Disseminate information about this product to the public so that people can make a more informed decision on palm oil consumption. • Invest and develop the cold storage capacity and safe transportation system, such as fridge track, and proper packaging to maintain freshness. Capacity management during the high season is also critical to providing affordable food prices. • Establish a state inspection system for controlling the sale of expired products. • Revise import regulations. قراءة القليل

3. Action track #2 shift to sustainable consumption patterns The following suggestions were presented; • Provide one-time subsidies and resources for food purchases to vulnerable communities based on assessing their needs. • Create a means of reducing the cost for food transportation to enable a more efficient food harvest-production-processing value chain, particularly cold storage facilities during the high season. • Examine food value chains and determine ways to reduce waste products and food waste. • Raise awareness on the benefits of recycling. • Develop policies for creating f... قراءة المزيدavourable conditions for vulnerable communities. قراءة القليل

4. Action track #3 boost nature- positive Production The following suggestions were presented; • Use natural fertilizers for soil, including biomass and worms, to avoid the use of chemicals. • Cooperation with regional animal husbandry organizations could be helpful, as the biomass from animals can be retained and utilized for the soil. • To preserve water as a scarce resource, drip irrigation needs to be established. We must ensure water channels and riverbeds stay clean, and awareness should be raised in this regard. • Oblige producers to have labels about disposal sites. • Facilit... قراءة المزيدate the adoption of eco-certification, provide easier access to eco-certification agencies, and educate farmers and producers about the introduction of this certification system. • Preservation of soil from salinization. قراءة القليل

5. Action track #4 advance equitable livelihoods The following suggestions were presented; • Provide educational opportunities for farmers based on their preferences and skillsets, not just based on market conditions and export orientation. • Offer a variety of suppliers and products a farmer can purchase for use. Control the monopolization of this industry. • Farmers should be given the power to decide where to sell, to which cluster, etc. • Farmers should have the freedom to grow what they want.

1.Action track #1 Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all •A big challenge is rooted in Uzbekistan's food culture and eating habits. In most Central Asian Countries, people tend to eat more meat and fewer vegetables than the average daily requirement. •Excessive use of palm oil also causes problems. Although cheap and widely used in every day products, certain ingredients in palm oil can increase cancer risk, making banning it advisable. •Central Asia's heavy karachay (black tea with milk) drinking culture needs to be reconsidered, as it causes many health problems, such as ana... قراءة المزيدemia. Improper diet leads to type 2 diabetes. In 2018, 62% of all diseases identified in Uzbekistan were cardiovascular (caused by high blood pressure and malnutrition). Black tea affects the metabolism, increases blood pressure and leads to poor absorption of nutrients. Thus, it is crucial to explain the side-effects of drinking black tea to vulnerable populations. •Advocacy campaigns should be strengthened so that eating habits rooted in the food culture give way to nutritious, balanced meals. •However, in Karakalpakstan, the average family supplements a shortage of expensive calories by eating more carbohydrates. It is essential to work with local people to ensure access to safe and nutritious food in Karakalpakstan. •From a farming perspective, three main challenges were identified. Firstly, lack of water, particularly irrigation water. Farmers suggested drilling wells as a solution. Secondly, a lack of refrigerators/refrigeration facilities in which to store bulky crops. Without high-quality refrigeration facilities, it is hard to maintain the freshness of newly harvested products. Lastly, chemical fertilizer is used excessively. Although organic fertilizers are safer/environmentally friendly, the use of chemical fertilizers is increasing. This leads to loss of land fertility. 2.Action track #2 Shift to sustainable consumption patterns •An unsustainable food consumption system in Karakalpakstan represents a major challenge. Due to the environmental crisis in the Aral Sea region, the Republic of Karakalpakstan has struggled to provide a stable food supply to the population and relies on other regions. Furthermore, a lack of up-to-date information on prices and market conditions has allowed layers of intermediaries to set unfair prices, and unjust price hikes. •The Government should develop an equitable mechanism to balance food prices and support and monitor the supply chain to prevent significant price rises and ensure sustainability. Social and financial support to low-income groups is also necessary. •In order to improve local production capacity and create a sustainable value chain, incentives for local farmers/producers should be provided, and resources, such as land, water, fertilizers, machinery should be provided at affordable prices. 3.Action track #3 Boost nature- positive Production •There is a negative impact on eco-systems and poor implementation of environmental protection laws. Environmental law should be re-enforced and streamlined, including introducing compensation mechanisms which impose fines on enterprises which cause negative environmental impact. •It is also important to develop an overall concept and strategy for sustainable food systems, indicating clear goals, criteria, and indicators. Identifying and setting a clear safety threshold for the eco-system is necessary. •In order to restore the damaged eco-system, the planting of species such as Thuja tree and Oak, which can survive in harsh environments and inhibit the spread of tuberculosis bacilli, should be urgently increased. Planting species with low-water demands, such as legumes, oilseeds, sesame and sunflower is also highly recommended. •Considering the constant water shortages in Karakalpakstan, instead of water-thirsty cotton, it is essential to diversify food crops to mitigate risk. 4.Action track #4 Advance equitable livelihoods •Alongside the unjustifiably high cost of resources (i.e., diesel fuel, fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, machinery) there is low productivity, water scarcity, and a lack of qualified agronomists. •Since many companies are state-owned, high resource prices and low productivity are the most pressing issues. One suggestion is to remove VAT tax from agriculture, preventing monopoly and increasing market competitiveness. Moreover, subsidies for fertilizers, lease of agricultural equipment and machinery and preferential loans are recommended, particularly for small/medium-sized farmers. •Introducing laser equalizer equipment (special machinery that equalizes the water line for irrigation) would be useful. •To attract more agronomists, it is necessary to offer incentives, such as a decent salary, capacity building training, and new technological equipment. 5.Action track #5 Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress •The pandemic has exposed the vulnerability of the food system, as certain essential foods have become difficult to obtain. However, some rural districts have been able to secure these. Teaching farming practices to the population could help households be self-sufficient in some agricultural products. •To shift to a more financially efficient production process and improve agricultural logistics, learning from international agricultural production experience and leveraging innovative technology is essential. •It is also important not to rely on external sources, but to use existing capacity to increase the efficiency of food production, including the improvement of ready foods. قراءة القليل

1. National Food Security System The dialogue convener underlined three major urgent issues: • The urgent reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural waste. • Further improvement of the hunger level. • Law and institutional systems must be streamlined to integrate international standards and strengthen import policy. The Government set the following indicators and action points to address food system challenges. 1) Food Security: Increase the productivity of the average crop of cereal grains by 17 %; increase total crop areas containing fodder crops by 1.1 %; improve the aver... قراءة المزيدage milk yield. 2) Favourable Agribusiness Environment: increase the share of exports from agricultural enterprises by 14 %; improve village farming and strengthen the "Made in Uzbekistan" brand; improve Uzbekistan's ranking (117) in 2018 in the World Bank's Logistic Performance Index (LPI); increase the share of processed products by 21.1%; increase workers in the food industry by 3 %. 3) Reduction of State Intervention and Promotion of Investment: improve the ranking of 77 out of 101 countries in the World Bank EVA index; increase capital investment (2021 exceeded the target for the year). 4) Improve natural resources usage: increase farmland by 1.0 million hectares; increase farmland water-saving technologies by 2.3%; reduce the percentage of saline soils; increase forest areas to 3.4 million hectares; increase angiosperm land area by 39%. 5) Modernize public administration systems: proceed with ongoing agricultural reforms and strengthen accountability as per new Presidential Decrees; revise the structure of state enterprises; privatize public enterprises and accelerate the legal process. 6) Diversify government spending: increase agriculture research costs by 0.0015%; increase loans to $ 900 million; strengthen medium-term budgeting. 7) Develop agricultural sciences, education, information and counselling services: raise the number of graduates who engage in agribusiness by 24 %; increase farmers' access to advice and services by 5%; increase the number of farmers who are satisfied with knowledge dissemination services and information counselling centres by 5%. 8) Development of Rural areas: increase the number of manufactures (micro-firms) in rural areas by 57.8%; increase the number of women producers in rural areas by 8 %; increase youth involvement in product development in rural areas by 8%. 9) Development of a transparent system of statistics: improve the national statistics system, including agriculture food statistics. The Government of Uzbekistan will implement the following actions by the end of 2021. • Introduce a supply market mechanism for plant protection and mineral fertilizer by April 2021. • Initiate a food safety and national consumption programme by September 2021. • Create transparent mechanisms for the lease of land plots by September 2021. • Conduct climate change analysis and software development by December 2021. • Initiate a digital agriculture integration platform (e-agriculture uz) by December 2021. Several issues and suggestions have been identified by online participants: • Lack of statistical data on all aspects of the country's food security systems. • The issue of harmonized language within the food security system. The need to strengthen and harmonize diverse food security terminologies to reach a wide range of people, particularly in Uzbek and Karakalpak languages. • Lack of knowledge sharing. International organizations and development agencies must learn from each other’s experiences, accelerate knowledge exchange, and create synergy to strengthen partnerships. • Policy recommendations are presented in the Report of Westminster University on "Urban Food Security and the Covid-19 Crisis; the case of Uzbekistan Cities" (P.9-24: Russian / English). This report identifies five policy options to ensure a robust and resilient urban food system: improved management of strategic food reserves; promotion of urban farming; sustainable urban social safety nets; open food trade; and continued liberalization of wheat production and market. قراءة القليل

2. Action track #1 ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all Major Issues: • Improper nutrition related to food culture, geographic location (more fat, meat, flour products, traditional systematic consumption of black tea, mixed simultaneous intake of incompatible products, such as hot meals, fruits and tea); the bulk of the population lives on carbohydrate, and palm oil, so diseases of the cardiovascular system are widespread. 62% of cardiovascular diseases are due to malnutrition. • Lack of refrigeration facilities for farmers. Proper storage of food (refrigerator). For example, ... قراءة المزيدharvesting takes several days, and during this time, it is necessary to store food in the right refrigeration conditions. • Poorly developed fruit transportation infrastructure. Transportation and storage costs are high. • There are problems with access to irrigated water, due to which it is impossible to grow food. • Due to chemicals in food, cancer is widespread among the population. • High prices for vegetable oil, even locally produced, which is obtained from cotton seeds. • Due to malnutrition, a high percentage of people with anaemia. • Thyroid disease is expected due to poor food and water quality. • Also, diseases such as gastritis and tuberculosis are widespread. • Failure to consume the required 2100 kilocalories per day. • Excessive consumption of karachay (black tea with milk) can lead to various diseases (anemia). Suggestions: • It is necessary to strengthen the promotion of healthy nutrition among the population. Use television, press, videos to promote the need for healthy eating. • It is necessary to revise diet, include more vegetables and fruits, move more, use fewer vehicles. In particular, the custom in Karakalpakstan of drinking milk with black tea was criticized as it leads to poor absorption of nutrients in the body. People neglect to each enough calories, eat irregularly and often snack instead of eating full meals, thereby depriving the body of nutrients which lowers immunity and contributes to disease. Banning palm oil. • Khokimiyats and local authorities, should allocate unused, reserve funds for farmers for refrigeration devices. • Allocation of benefits to farmers for the purchase of refrigeration devices. • Use of groundwater for irrigation of plants (as an alternative). • Diffusion of new and innovative methods (growing potatoes in paper bags instead of growing on salty soil). • There are a lot of empty buildings in the areas. The Government must provide sufficient refrigerated storage facilities. Food must be kept in refrigerators. • Assist in the procurement of pumps for pumping groundwater. For example, there are places with shallow freshwater (12 m), which will improve the water supply for food production. • It is necessary to expand the area using water-saving technologies. • Construction of greenhouses for growing potatoes using innovative technology. • The Government should carefully study and take measures to prevent unjustified price rises in food. Due to the high cost, the population is deprived of the opportunity to include safe oils and fruits in the diet. For example, participants raised the issue of the dangers of palm oil. Almost the entire confectionery industry uses this oil because it is cheap. The result is a significant increase in cardiovascular disease. • Widely used organic fertilizer in the fields. • Recycling. قراءة القليل

3. Action track #2 shift to sustainable consumption patterns Suggestions: • Improve Agro logistics and product marketing. • Production of products without chemicals. • Dissemination of information about correct nutrition among the population, raising awareness of the dangers of unhealthy nutrition. • Waste recycling, product reuse, product reuse chain creation. • Expand chemical-free food production. • Increased production of food products that are beneficial to the human body. • The Government needs to develop a mechanism to balance unreasonably high food prices. • Compliance ... قراءة المزيدwith the rules of hygiene. • Solve the issue of waste disposal (organize their location away from settlements). • Incentives for local producers. • Provide state support to low-income and vulnerable groups of the population to meet their needs for food. • Provide the necessary resources (diesel fuel, water, machinery, fertilizers) at affordable prices for producers. • Create conditions for households plots and small farmers for food production, given that this category of producers produces more than 70% of food in the country. • Provide the population with decent wages to buy the food they need. • Provide the population with affordable food all year round. • Allocation of concessional loans for farmers and small cooperatives for food production. • Providing farmers with preferential loans for equipment for laser land levelling. • Equitable distribution of water resources (there are cases when water is primarily given to those who pay bribes to water workers). • Put the sale of food products in order. There are a lot of intermediaries in the supply chain, which leads to unreasonable price increases. • Provide accurate statistics. Figures from official statistics do not correspond to reality, which hinders the adoption of appropriate decisions on the provision of food. Food price statistics should be based on market prices. • Diversify crops. Instead of cotton, which requires a lot of water (in short supply in Karakalpakstan), provide for the sowing of other food crops. قراءة القليل