Explore Official Dialogue Feedback

There was mutual understanding on all five dialogue topics and no major divergencies during the discussion were found out.

Strengthen capacities to resist vulnerabilities and the often changing economic environment The need of transparent and inclusive collaboration mechanisms between different food system actors in Armenia was mentioned as a precondition for meeting challenges and strengthening capacities to resist vulnerabilities and shocks. Based on the results and findings of the discussion by this outcome the focus lies on the research and education and the transformation processes in this sector. The representative from the Armenian National Agrarian University presented several examples on how to better lin... Read morek academia, practice and policy making, e.g., by providing trainings for farmers and cooperatives as well as consultancy to the respective line ministries. At the same time several challenges were presented related to cooperatives in agricultural sector. It was highlighted that successful example of collaborations - such as the farmers’ cooperative “Tavsho Hatik” - should be disseminated and scaled-up across the county. Finally, in order to boost investments and strengthen capacities in food systems, the Enterprise Armenia (EA) was presented as the national investment promotion authority with the main mission of promoting and facilitating foreign and domestic investments, attracting new foreign direct investments as well as supporting and providing financing to farmers and SMEs. Read less

Boost nature-positive production at scale Two possible approaches were presents by government representatives for consolidating agricultural land and implementing effective reform processes - voluntarily or with state intervention. The discussion showed that fragmented land hinders private sector actors investing in agriculture. Cases were presented where unclear distribution of land and incorrectness in land cadaster certificates cause challenges for starting production and using the existing potential. It was agreed that the establishment of a land agency could speed the land reform process ... Read moreand help to clarify land right issues. Moreover, the land agency could play an intermediary role between investors and farmers for boosting agricultural production in Armenia. Read less

Ensure the availability of safe nutritious food Since food safety is directly and indirectly interconnected with various other sectors of economy, during the dialogue much importance was attached to the coordinated approach towards solution of food safety problems as major outcome of the discussions. The engagement of the private sector actors was highlighted as a key in the form of co-financing initiatives for ensuring the availability of safe nutritious food. The EU-GAIA representatives made clear that innovative systemic solutions are needed along different value chains for increasing produ... Read morectivity and implementing safety standards with the example of animal husbandry and horticultural crops value chains. The government representatives highlighted that also for legumes and cereals production communities have a need for systemic support along the respective value chains. Investments could make these crops attractive as nutritious food, and the government is willing to scale-up successful models for the entire country. Read less

The main conclusion drawn from the discussions was that a continuous and target-oriented dialogue is needed between public and private sector actors for effectively transforming Armenian food systems. Thereby, research and academic institutions such as the Armenian National Agrarian University and international organizations such as the UN World Food Programme could play an important role in order to enable technological development, boost investment and contribute to the process of building resilient food systems. Based on the discussion results a strategy will be elaborated on how to enhance... Read more food security through an inclusive multi-sectoral approach for making food systems more resilience against shocks and thus, improving nutrition for all. The example of EU-GAIA project on promoting Green Agriculture through targeted approaches along different food value chain could serve as a reference on how to develop inclusive and sustainable food supply chains in the frame of multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral dialogue processes. At the same time, there was an overall agreement that fragmented and ineffective use of agricultural land remains as the main challenge for the development of agricultural sector and thus, the starting point for transforming food systems in Armenia. Therefore, all invited representatives have expressed their commitment to get engaged in the process of developing mechanisms for sustainable and effective use of agricultural land in Armenia for improving farm structures and increasing productivity and efficiency of agriculture. Read less

The third stage of the Armenia National Dialogue focused on developing recommendations and action plans to: (a) ensure the availability of safe nutritious food; (b) boost nature-positive production at scale and, (c) strengthen capacities to resist vulnerabilities and the often changing economic environment; thus, building more socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable food systems in Armenia. The presentations and discussions were broken into five main action areas identified during the first National Dialogue and aligned with the UN Food Systems Summit “action tracks” as out... Read morelined below: 1. Recommended actions for Effective Land reform – The main focus was placed on presenting and discussing mechanisms for sustainable and effective use of agricultural land in Armenia. Several suggestions have been discussed on how to bring unutilized land into production, improv farm structures, increase productivity and efficiency, develop a land market (bank) and effectively regulate access and control of agricultural land. 2. Investing in Food Systems: Multi - sectoral approach for Food Systems Development – Strategies have been presented and discussed on how to enhance food security through an inclusive multi-sectoral approach. A special emphasis was put on the collaboration for improved nutrition and ensuring safe, quality, and nutritional food for all for building resilience to shocks. 3. Transforming Agriculture Education and Research for resilient food systems – The role of education and research sector was particularly highlighted in discussions for sustainable food systems transformation. Needs for action were identifies in order to achieve a new stage of technological development and e-agriculture as a key enabler of agricultural and rural development. 4. Value Chain Approach to promote Green Agriculture – Based on the approaches applied in the frame of the “EU Green Agriculture Initiative in Armenia” (EU-GAIA) project, several strategies along selected value chains have been presented and discussed for promoting green agriculture and sustainable food supply chain. The focus was put on resource efficient, innovative and eco-friendly technologies. 5. Strengthening Public and Private partnerships for food systems transformation – Mechanisms have been discussed on haw to deepen strategic cooperation between government and private sector organizations as well as research and academic institutions and international organizations. It was emphasized that only an effective dialogue mechanism can enable sustainable development and boost investments in different segments of the food value chain. Read less