06.05.2025
On 22 April 2025, a cooperation agreement in the research field of “Climate smart irrigated agriculture” was signed at the highest institutional level between the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the “Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization Engineers” National Research University (“TIIAME” NRU, Uzbekistan). The purpose of the agreement is to formalize the cooperation between the “TIIAME” NRU and ZALF, which has been ongoing since 2013.
In particular, it is planned to initiate a Living Lab in climate-smart irrigated agriculture, which will be organized for the first time in Uzbekistan. Within the framework of this cooperation, the following activities are expected:
co-develop innovative technologies and solutions in irrigated agriculture by focusing on the challenges related to soil degradation, water scarcity, food insecurity and climate change in semi-arid Uzbekistan
pilot-testing new agricultural technologies and practices suitable to the specific environmental, social, and economic conditions of the local context
conduct participatory assessments of sustainability impacts of new technologies and solutions
provide training and educational opportunities for farmers and other stakeholders to adopt new practices
support the training of doctoral students and researchers and organize summer schools
establish science-society-policy interface mechanisms to identify policy-relevant implications from co-design research
analyze the suitability, challenges and opportunities of conducting living lab research within the governance system of a transition economy
The current cooperation is valid for 3 years from the date of signature. After three years, there will be a round of evaluation and reflection for a second term.
From the ZALF side, Prof. Ahmad Hamidov participated in the signing process at “TIIAME” NRU.
