Dushanbe hosts key regional summits amid shifting geopolitical landscape
Dushanbe is preparing for one of its busiest diplomatic weeks in recent memory. From 8 to 12 October, the capital of Tajikistan will host two major in...
Transitioning to green agriculture requires a fundamental shift in budget priorities, sustainable practices, and consumer behavior, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasized at the 4th Agribusiness Development Forum held in Baku
Speaking at the forum, Dmitry Zvyagintsev, a representative of the FAO, detailed a set of key recommendations for achieving environmentally sustainable agriculture. “It is essential to reduce environmentally harmful budget supports and redirect some of those funds towards eco-friendly measures,” he stated. Zvyagintsev underscored the importance of aligning agricultural policies with agro-climatic conditions and introducing clear environmental requirements to help farmers move toward greener practices.
He also stressed the need for greater investment in research and development. “We want farmers to adopt sustainable land management practices and use climate-resilient seeds and animal breeds,” he noted.
Another crucial element of the transition, according to Zvyagintsev, involves consumer-oriented measures. “Promoting sustainable dietary choices at the retail level will influence which products are in demand and, consequently, which products farmers grow,” he said. He also highlighted the importance of reducing food loss and waste as part of the green agriculture agenda.
While agro-systems deliver significant benefits to society, Zvyagintsev warned that they also carry considerable environmental costs. “These negative impacts primarily affect water, soil, nitrogen, and the climate,” he said.
Citing FAO data, he revealed that global food systems generate approximately $10 trillion annually in hidden costs, with around $3 trillion stemming from countries in the region. “In our region, unhealthy diets account for the largest share of hidden costs, followed by environmental costs related to climate, water, soil, and nitrogen,” he explained.
Zvyagintsev concluded by urging policymakers to consider these figures in ministerial discussions, particularly when allocating budget support and planning green transition strategies for farmers.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
At least 69 people have died and almost 150 injured following a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Cebu City in the central Visayas region of the Philippines, officials said, making it one of the country’s deadliest disasters this year.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
Authorities in California have identified the dismembered body discovered in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd as 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing from Lake Elsinore since April 2024.
Azerbaijan is stepping up its renewable energy ambitions with plans to develop eight new solar and wind plants by 2027, backed by $2.8 billion in investment and aimed at exceeding its 2030 climate targets ahead of schedule.
On the second day of Baku Climate Action Week (BCAW), attention centred on strengthening international cooperation, accelerating the transition to clean energy, and ensuring a fair and inclusive approach.
Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed Hong Kong with hurricane-force winds and torrential rain on Wednesday.
When Climate Week kicks off in New York City on Sunday (21 September), it will mark the largest event of its kind yet, with organisers reporting a record number of companies participating and more events than ever before.
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