Scaling Climate-Smart Agriculture to Protect Agrobiodiversity Across the Eastern Partnership

Organized on 20 October 2026 by REC Caucasus, the PROGRESS regional side event convened experts from across Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to showcase how climate-smart solutions from high-tech satellite monitoring to the revival of resilient heritage crops are helping farmers strengthen climate resilience while reversing biodiversity loss.

Discussions at the event directly supported the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by tying hands-on, field-tested farming practices directly to global goals on sustainable agriculture, genetic preservation, and ecosystem restoration. At its core, the conversation highlighted a simple truth: farming relies entirely on healthy soils, clean water, and thriving pollinators, proving that agricultural productivity and nature preservation truly go hand-in-hand. Across the region, initiatives are actively working to align agricultural policies with EU standards, adapt to shifting pest pressures, and heal severe wartime environmental damages through green restoration and creative financing. Drawing from more than 50 demonstration projects, innovative approaches ranging from satellite orchard tracking and early-warning pest alerts to biological crop protection and heritage crop revivals have proven that farmers can successfully cut down on chemicals, control disease, and boost profitability all at once. Wrapping up the event, leaders stressed that scaling these successes means treating integrated pest management as a complete, holistic system rather than just a quick fix. Looking ahead, key recommendations include embedding nature-friendly practices into national policies, helping farmers manage upfront investment costs, and opening doors to green markets to drive widespread adoption.

PROGRESS programme is funded by by Germany's International Climate Initiative-IKI and implemented by GIZ, OECD, REC Caucasus, IEF Ukraine, and EBA Moldova.