India, May 29 -- Astana - QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today urged immediate action on water conservation, transboundary cooperation, and sustainable agricultural practices to safeguard Central Asia's future.

Speaking at the opening session of the Astana International Forum - a regional and international dialogue platform hosted by the Government of Kazakhstan -, QU said: "Water security is a pillar of agrifood systems, yet it is under increasing threat due to scarcity, pollution, and weak infrastructure."

With vast land resources, rich agrobiodiversity, and strategic geographic location, Central Asia has enormous potential to transform its agrifood systems into drivers...