Climate change, loss of biodiversity and the degradation of our lands and oceans are existential threats, which are fast resulting in soil depletion, extreme weather events and nutrition issues. In response to these threats, a hybrid regional workshop “Dialogues on Sustainable Food Systems: from production to consumption” will be organised by the European Union (EU) on 27-28 September 2023 in Tbilisi.
Climate change, loss of biodiversity and the degradation of our lands and oceans are existential threats, which are fast resulting in soil depletion, extreme weather events and nutrition issues. In response to these threats, a hybrid regional workshop “Dialogues on Sustainable Food Systems: from production to consumption” will be organised by the European Union (EU) on 27-28 September 2023 in Tbilisi.
The EU-funded workshop will bring together key experts, policy makers as well as public stakeholders from the European Union, Georgia and its neighbouring countries to discuss “Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems”.
This dialogue will seek to exchange views in order to find common grounds, principles and actions, while identifying a way forward to further reinforce and amplify regional cooperation. In particular, discussions/exchanges will focus on how the EU and the countries in the EU Neighbourhood and Central Asia, namely Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Türkiye, can join forces to move towards sustainable and resilient food systems.
The workshop will be hosted by the European Commission, DG SANTÉ and will address two main themes: Soil health and sustainable use of fertilizers: This session will discuss the importance of soil health for food production and the environment. Participants will explore ways to improve soil health and reduce the use of fertilizers. Food loss, waste, and sustainable consumption: This session will focus on the need to reduce food loss and waste. Participants will discuss ways to improve food distribution and consumption patterns.
The discussions will aim to help the multiple stakeholders of the food systems to identify strategies, policies and practices that will guide them to different levels of desirable change. Presentations from speakers from Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Türkiye will be followed by a panel discussion on existing or future synergies between approaches that could pave the way for collaboration, including how this collaboration could support the transition at a global level.
As part of its Green Deal, The Farm to Fork Strategy (the Farm to Fork Strategy ) is a significant step forward for the EU in its efforts to achieve a sustainable food system. It is an ambitious plan that will require significant investment and coordination. However, with successful, the strategy could have a major impact on the way we produce, consume, and waste food in the EU and also for the protection of human and planetary health.
