ArmInfo. The international roundtable discussion "FAO, SCO, and EAEU Mechanisms and Instruments Affecting the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems" was held on November 12 at the Eurasian Economic Commission under the chairmanship of Gohar Barseghyan, Minister of Industry and Agro-Industrial Complex of the Eurasian Economic Commission.
According to the EEC press service, the participants exchanged experiences in transforming agri-food systems, strengthening their resilience and adaptation to climate change, and discussed the importance of multilateral digital platforms in shaping agri-food chains. SCO and FAO representatives noted the significant role of EAEU countries in the global agri-food system. The three organizations' existing tools were reviewed, points of convergence were highlighted, and promising cooperation formats were identified that will strengthen the sustainability and competitiveness of agrifood systems in the Eurasian region. "I am convinced that consolidating our joint efforts has great potential for developing practical, practice-oriented solutions. FAO's experience in transforming supply chains, the SCO's potential in developing Eurasian corridors, and the Union's legal instruments together form a stable foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation in the agro-industrial complex," the EEC Minister emphasized.
The focus also included the introduction of innovation and artificial intelligence in the agro-industrial complex, export support, and agricultural supply insurance. "The main factor in the accelerated growth of agricultural production, which is currently the focus of the Commission and member states, is the introduction of advanced technologies and the digital transformation of the agricultural market. "The use of AI while maintaining digital sovereignty and sharing technologies is, in essence, a direct tool for improving business efficiency, increasing competitiveness, and strengthening the Union's food security," noted Gohar Barseghyan.
To further develop economic cooperation, agreements were reached to explore the integration of EAEU statistical and forecasting tools with the SCO Food Security Atlas and to continue joint research by the FAO and the EEC on creating a digital space for the transfer of agricultural innovations and technologies. Plans are underway to explore the organization and holding of EAEU Days at FAO headquarters in Rome in 2027.
The event was attended by representatives of authorized government bodies of EAEU countries, SCO Deputy Secretary-General Sohel Khan, Special Advisor to the FAO Director-General Vladimir Rakhmanin, and more than 30 industry unions and associations in the agro-industrial complex.
