Astana, Kazakhstan – 23 April 2026 – H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), joined regional leaders in the side event titled “Food Security in Central Asia: Promoting Sustainable Water and Land Management through Regional Cooperation,” organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana.
The session brought together senior government officials and international partners. A statement on behalf of H.E. Mr. Aidarbek Saparov, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, was delivered by Mr. Yerbol Taszhurekov, Vice Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was also attended by H.E. Mr. Viorel Gutu, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization; Mr. Talgat Momyshev, Vice Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan; Ms. Nino Tandilashvili, First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Mr. Almaz Zheenaliev, Deputy Minister – Director of the Service for Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic; Mr. Bahromjon Ahmadzoda, Deputy Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan; and Mr. Arslan Soltanmyradov, Head of the International and Scientific Relations Department of the State Veterinary Service under the Ministry of Agriculture of Turkmenistan.
In his remarks, Ambassador Berik Aryn highlighted that food security in Central Asia is under increasing pressure from climate change, land degradation, and water scarcity, stressing that water remains the defining factor for the region’s agricultural future. He emphasized that addressing these interconnected challenges requires strengthened regional cooperation, improved water management, and the adoption of climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The Director General further outlined IOFS’s ongoing efforts to support Member States through capacity-building, digital solutions in irrigation management, and the promotion of integrated water–land–food approaches aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience. He also noted that these efforts align with broader global initiatives on water governance, particularly the initiative of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to establish a United Nations International Water Organization, reaffirming IOFS’s support for advancing coordinated and forward-looking solutions in this area.
The side event reaffirmed the importance of coordinated regional action and innovation in addressing shared environmental challenges and strengthening long-term food security.
