The region of Europe and Central Asia is an economic and agricultural powerhouse that boasts diverse cultures, agri-food systems and climatic zones, FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said today. This diversity, he added, provides opportunities to share experience and good practices within the region and beyond, but to tap this potential the region needs more investment and innovation.

The FAO Director-General was speaking at the Regional Dialogue for Europe and Central Asia on policy and governance issues to transform agri-food systems.

A rich exchange of views and dynamic discussion took place among senior government officials, civil society organizations, academia, private sector representatives, farmers, producers' organizations, as well as youth representatives and the general public interested in food and nutrition-related issues.

The participants noted that the world is facing unprecedented challenges that are becoming increasingly complex and new pathways for the planet and people need to be discussed and shared. They agreed that the region can and should play a key role in this conversation driving the development of game-changing solutions to transform agri-food systems. This debate is particularly important in the run-up to the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) in September this year.