FAO hails Baku’s leadership in climate action and agriculture

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) has voiced strong support for Azerbaijan’s climate initiatives in the agricultural sector, highlighting the country’s growing role as a leader in climate action.

Speaking at Baku Climate Action Week, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia, Viorel Gutu, emphasised that Azerbaijan is setting an example through its climate-focused efforts, particularly in agriculture and food security.

“Baku is associated with the success of COP29,” Gutu noted, referring to one of the most impactful climate summits in recent years.

Gutu pointed to the launch of the Baku Harmoniya Climate Initiative for Farmers, developed with the support of COP29 and FAO, as a key milestone in engaging farmers and rural communities in tackling climate change. The program has emerged as a flagship initiative under the Food Agriculture for Sustainable Transformation (FAST) Partnership, which aims to expand climate financing for sustainable agrosystems.

FAO is actively collaborating with Azerbaijan to modernise agricultural value chains, digitise farming operations, strengthen laboratory and certification systems, and implement a pilot farm sustainability monitoring system.

Additional projects include biodiversity conservation, sustainable forestry, land degradation control, and pesticide management, all in cooperation with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan.

Highlighting broader goals, Gutu stressed the importance of reducing food loss and waste as a crucial step for food security and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. He added, “Climate change knows no borders, and mitigation measures must be global.”

FAO will continue to partner with Azerbaijan and other nations, providing expertise, innovation, strategic partnerships, and access to climate finance to build more sustainable, inclusive, and climate-resilient agricultural systems worldwide.

By Tamilla Hasanova