FOOD SECURITY & CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE

On November 30, 2012, AUCA’s Tian Shan Policy Center (TSPC) and Kyrgyz National Agrarian University (KNAU) named after K.I. Skryabin hosted a Conference

Food Security and Land Resources under a Changing Climate – Issues of Adaptation.

The Conference took place at the newly refurbished Science Library at KNAU.

The TSPC-Agrarian National University Conference brought together experts from academia, international organizations, such as FAO, World Food Program, UNDP, and KR officials including the Deputy Minister of Agriculture Dyikanbay Kenzhebaev, and First Secretary of International Organizations and Security Department of Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Madina Karabaeva, to share current research and some of the model practices and lessons being developed at the international level and which are now being piloted in Kyrgyzstan to improve management of climate risks and community adaptation.

Experts modeling climate change have revealed that Kyrgyzstan is experiencing increases in average temperatures and variability in weather that is leading to more seasonal drought, storms, and floods among other hazards. Within the next seven years, there is expected an additional increase of 2 degrees centigrade. This is likely to magnify problems in declining crop yields, livestock raising, and food security throughout the country. There are a number of activities being undertaken by government agencies, international and nongovernmental organizations, and academic researchers and institutes to better study and identify responses to the challenges faced by Kyrgyz agricultural communities. However, much of the research is new and activities have generally not been shared or coordinated to ensure maximum support to agricultural communities and businesses at risk. Most people engaged in farming and pastoral activities remain unaware of and vulnerable to the serious predicted climate change. They do not have all of the resources, tools, or support programs that could help them to build resilience and manage the risks.

Conference Overview

Opening and Welcome Statements were presented by:

Rysbek Nurgaziev, Rector, Professor, Corresponding-member of NAS КR, KNAU named after K.I. Skryabin
Michelle Leighton, Professor of Law, Deputy Director Tian Shan Policy Center, American University of Central Asia