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FAO Regional Conference for Europe highlights resilience & inclusion
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Wednesday, 13 May, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Dushanbe, Tajikistan
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Ministers and high-level representatives from across Europe and Central Asia gathered to discuss ways to strengthen the efficiency, inclusiveness, resilience and sustainability of agrifood systems in the face of growing climate, economic and geopolitical pressures.
The 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe (ERC35), held in Tajikistan's capital under the overarching theme ‘Uniting for Sustainability: Integrating climate action, biodiversity conservation and land restoration for sustainable agrifood systems in Europe and Central Asia’.
Held every two years, the ERC is FAO's highest governing body for the Europe and Central Asia region, offering countries and related partners the opportunity to discuss the most pressing issues in food and agriculture and to define FAO’s priority areas of work for the following biennium.
In his address to the regional ministerial conference, FAO director-general QU Dongyu reminded delegates that the challenges faced by the region, among them the climate crisis, economic pressures, and supply chain disruptions, do not respect borders and therefore demand collective action and solutions. He called for discussions to focus on two urgent priorities: strengthening the resilience of agrifood systems across the region; and securing adequate financing to make that resilience possible.
The regional ministerial conference is taking place at a time when countries across Europe and Central Asia are simultaneously facing climate shocks, market volatility and geopolitical disruptions, alongside biodiversity loss, water stress and rising pressure on household food affordability.
Although global food commodity markets have partially stabilised following major price spikes in 2022 due to the war in Ukraine, many countries across Europe and Central Asia continue to face elevated food prices and high agricultural input costs, not least due to the current conflict in the Middle East.
Dongyu said, "Peace and stability are pre-requisites for food security and the right to food is a basic human right. Work together to mitigate the impacts of conflict on vulnerable populations and ensure food, fertiliser and seeds reach those who need them most."
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