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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, ... Lire la suiteharvesting 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. Lire moins

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... Lire la suiteage 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. Lire moins

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... Lire la suiteemia. 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. Lire moins

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... Lire la suite transparent system of statistics. Introducing indicators to monitor progress is a highlight of the new strategy. In the thematic discussion session, participants were divided into five Action Track groups ; 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. Groups explored options for collective action to contribute via national pathways towards sustainable food systems. The first action track (Ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all) focused on challenges rooted in Uzbekistan's food culture and eating habits, including a preference for excessive consumption of meat, oil, and tea. Structural issues for farmers were also identified; lack of access to water resources and irrigation facilities, lack of refrigeration facilities for long-term storage of harvested products, and chemical fertilizer usage. The second action track (Shift to sustainable consumption patterns) focused attention on the unsustainable consumption model in Karakalpakstan. Due to limited food production capacity and high dependency on other regions, average food prices are higher, and profits mostly concentrate on intermediate agents. The group offered a wide variety of suggestions related to consumption patterns, covering food waste management, qualitative hygiene control, financial and social support for vulnerable groups, and equitable water resource distribution. The third action track (Boost nature-positive production) emphasized the importance of legislation and/or legal frameworks to protect biodiversity and eco-systems, such as compensation mechanisms. The group suggested developing a comprehensive sustainable food system strategy with clear criteria and indicators to identify risk factors and safety thresholds and to monitor progress. The importance of selecting plants that can withstand harsh natural environments was also discussed. The fourth action track (Advance equitable livelihoods) addressed structural issues—expensive resources and low productivity in the agricultural sector due to long dominance of state-owned enterprises. Ways to introduce modern technology and agricultural machinery were explored, ensuring inclusivity and environmental-friendliness within limited resources. The fifth action track (Build resilience to vulnerabilities, shocks and stress) focused on the balanced-approach to imports and domestic food production capacity in order to build a sustainable national food system. Ensuring inclusivity and equity through digitalization and modern agricultural equipment was discussed. Lire moins

The tension between the wish to restrict imports (of fortified products) and to ease import requirements for importation of pre-mix and other raw materials reflects the wider challenges for a country like Cambodia. The borders are difficult to police, the number of authorities involved in importation, manufacture and sale and the challenges of meeting all requirements mean that it is difficult for the private sector to be competitive. There is also a divergence between commercially viable fortified products and the provision of fortified products as a form of social assistance, where it is exp... Lire la suiteected that government or development partners should pay the costs of fortification and not the consumers themselves. Lire moins

TOPIC 4. Development Partners Recommendation There are three main areas for improvement of food fortification in Cambodia. Increased investment in research and innovation, especially with use of locally produced foods; the universities are interested by the environment is challenging in terms of lack of funding, facilities, human resources and curriculum. The private sector and especially SMEs lack knowledge about quality and safety issues, access to technology and seldom link to academia. This suggests potential for public private partnerships. Creating consumer demand is difficult because of... Lire la suite lack of awareness of benefits, lack of trust and lack of investment in marketing. Many challenges to face, including lack of raw materials. The delay in getting imported products cleared and the ordering time, even with the support of the Ministry of Health. Also, the attitudes of consumers, who usually attach value to that which they can see. Fortification is invisible to them and benefits unknown and often products not trusted. As far as most Cambodians are concerned, beneficial products should be provided free. Research is lacking on consumer acceptance and we need to cultivate consumer trust. Fortified foods are classified as a medicine here in Cambodia. That can complicate manufacture and sale of fortified products. There is a lack of research and engagement of the universities in this area. Generally, the SMES who could produce these products are looking for subsidies. There is potential for scaling up if we can establish trust amongst consumers, starting with those who are more aware and health conscious and who are more willing to pay for healthy food. Public Private Partnerships might offer a viable route for scaling up. Nutrition labelling and consumer education can also lead to changed demand, especially if truth in Labeling law is upheld. There are examples of products which have been successful in other Asian and in African countries. For Cambodia, it is important to use local foods which are nutrient dense and these can be used as bio-fortificants when preparing dishes. Examples from Sri Lanka showed that the fortification successes come from following local tastes and the demand of different age groups, using local products and providing support for local farmers as an added product quality. Food fortification is a rich area for research and development and innovation. Other countries, some in Africa, have demonstrated the value of increasing investment in research and development to support fortification efforts and commercial success. Lire moins

TOPIC 3. Rice Fortification The main challenge is to ensure fortified rice products are commercially viable. It helps if the government and DPs include fortified products in social assistance programmes, especially if quality standards are maintained. Commercialize rice and other food fortification through private sector. Integrating rice and food fortification into Social assistant programme where it can be reached to vulnerable people. Strengthen food fortification policy and regulation environment.

TOPIC 2. Market We tend to talk too much about production challenges and need for producer support. There is too little work on how to stimulate consumer demand. Lack of knowledge of consumers, lack of trust, imported products often cheaper. Cambodian consumers often don’t care about or know about the importance of vitamins and minerals to support their health. Even with a very small price difference, consumers mostly just want the cheapest product, regardless of claimed nutritional values. If taste or small changes due to fortification this discourages the buyers. Coordination between autho... Lire la suiterities and the private sector needs to be improved. Imported fortified products should be regulated but restrictions on import of raw materials should be eased. Standards need to be well understood and tested and regulations need to be enforced. If some producers are required to fortify their product, they should not have to compete with unfortified product. There should be contributions from both the producers and the government. Government can help to ensure no cheap un-fortified products are allowed to compete. Lire moins