President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been presented with the Agricola Medal, the highest award granted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The medal was officially bestowed upon the head of state on October 6 in Tashkent by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. The recognition highlights Mirziyoyev’s proactive initiatives and demonstrable results in bolstering national and regional food security, advancing water management practices, and modernizing the agricultural sector.

The visit of the FAO Director-General to Uzbekistan is tied to his participation in the international conference commemorating World Cotton Day and the Second Forum on Agrifood Systems Transformation for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). During high-level discussions, the Uzbek leadership and the FAO chief reviewed the expansion of their strategic partnership. A new five-year cooperation program was adopted, while 27 joint projects are currently underway in active implementation phases.

Particular emphasis during the summit was placed on accelerating agricultural digitalization, deploying artificial intelligence technologies, securing specialized climate financing, and fostering training programs for agronomists and researchers. Highlighting Uzbekistan's growing role within multilateral institutions, the country has been elected to the FAO Council for the 2028–2029 term for the first time in its history. Furthermore, Tashkent is scheduled to launch an Agro-Innovation Hub designed to assist landlocked nations on October 7.

Established in 1977, the Agricola Medal is awarded by the FAO to distinguished world leaders and international figures who have demonstrated significant commitment and tangible contributions toward eradicating global hunger, reducing poverty, and advancing sustainable agriculture worldwide.

Source: podrobno.uz