site.btaFAO’s Nabil Gangi: Cooperation between CEE Countries and China Provides Opportunities for Knowledge Exchange

Nabil Gangi, Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), spoke about FAO’s four objectives for creating opportunities for cooperation. He was one of the participants in the international conference “10 Years APACCCEEC: Bridge for Cooperation between China and the CEE Countries” held at the Grand Hotel Sofia on Thursday. The event was organized by the Association for the Promotion of Agricultural Cooperation between China and the Central and Eastern European Countries (APACCCEEC).

Gangi placed innovation and knowledge transfer at the forefront. Agriculture today is not just about labour and land, but about data, technology and cooperation, he said. That is why digital agriculture initiatives in the region are important. According to him, cooperation between CEE countries and China provides opportunities for universities, research institutes and young professionals to exchange knowledge and develop technologies that are suitable for local conditions. Cooperation in the field of innovation is exactly what is needed to build a sustainable food system, according to the FAO representative.

The second important topic is climate change and sustainability, Gangi said. He added that the Europe and Central Asia region is very vulnerable to climate change. That is why FAO is working with individual countries to develop climate sustainability strategies. The fact that China is a leader in agroecology and green technologies offers many opportunities for cooperation with CEE countries, he said.

Nabil Gangi then turned his attention to supply chains and value chains. In an era of increasing globalization, food security is both a local and a global issue. In this regard, the FAO supports countries in improving traceability, certification and risk assessment systems.

Last but not least, the FAO representative spoke about young people and women. Sustainable agriculture is not only about climate change and its mitigation, but also about an ageing population and producing more food for a better livelihood, he said.

Nabil Gangi confirmed his support for the APACCCEEC and - on behalf of the FAO - its readiness to support countries in Central and Eastern Europe and beyond in building bridges of knowledge, solidarity, and innovation.