Green Economy and Agritourism Drive Rural Growth

Oleg Kobiakov, Director of FAO’s Moscow Office, delivered opening remarks on 9 November to the International Conference on “The Potential of Green Economy and Agritourism: Prospects of Sustainable Development for Regions”, jointly organized by Belgorod University of Cooperation, Economy and Law (BUKEP), the Green Jobs and Sustainable Development International Centre, the National Association of Organizations for Agri- and Eco-tourism Development and the International Union of Non-governmental Organizations “The Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly.” 

Oleg Kobiakov described FAO’s mission and work, emphasizing that the Organization’s primary objective is to ensure global food security and ready access for all people on the planet to sufficient high-quality food to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle. He accentuated the SDG 2 in the context of 2030 Agenda aimed at eliminating hunger worldwide, specially noting that the COVID-19 pandemic made the task much more challenging. “Today the number of people affected by hunger exceeds 811 million”, stressed the Director of FAO’s Moscow Office. 

Food production, despite the technological advances, directly depends on the natural environment and is based on nature-derived resources, which need to be preserved and protected to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Certainly, agritourism, ecotourism and the implementation of green economy can play a role in radically improving the situation”, said the head of FAO's Moscow Office, stating the Organization’s standpoint on the issue.

Oleg Kobiakov also spoke of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. “FAO together with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) coordinate the implementation of the Decade,” he noted. The Decade on Ecosystem Restoration declared by the UN General Assembly intends to galvanize efforts to conduct large-scale regeneration of degraded and damaged ecosystems as an effective measure to combat and mitigate climate change and strengthen food security. 

Focusing actions of both private sector and governmental organizations on the “green” approach facilitates the preservation and restoration of such ecosystems. Oleg Kobiakov also stressed the importance of involving “a broad spectrum of partners in the coalition for a healthy planet and green economy – I mean universities, experts, non-governmental organizations and state authorities.” 

The head of FAO’s Moscow Office also touched upon the recent UN Food Systems Summit, which served as a forum for dozens of heads of state and government, as well as foreign ministers. “Sergei Lavrov, Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, represented Russia at the Summit, noted Oleg Kobiakov. 

Thus, in his address Minister Lavrov emphasized three points: “1) it is unacceptable that, amid the explosive development of science and technology, people continue to suffer from hunger; 2) given the massive number of those affected by hunger globally, large-scale humanitarian aid is needed, and Russia is ready to keep on providing such support; 3) we need to continue national dialogues on food systems, which were successfully convened before the Summit in many countries, including the Russian Federation.” 

Oleg Kobiakov specially mentioned that FAO’s Moscow Office responded to S. Lavrov’s proposal: ‘“Together with the Moscow State University of Food Production and the Eurasian Peoples’ Assembly we held the first part of such dialogue on 19 October, and we will follow this track in this country.’’

In conclusion, the FAO Representative presented the flagship programme on agricultural heritage of global significance (GIAHS). GIAHS sites are unique agroecosystems inhabited by communities that have diverse links to their territory and resources. The Russian Federation is getting ready to submit the first nominations for GIAHS status, and its participation in the process will undoubtedly support the development of Russian rural areas in accordance with the sustainable development paradigm.