A field seminar on "Food security in the face of global climate change: development of grain cultivation in the rainfed and increasing drought resistance and productivity with modern approaches" was held at the Gobustan Regional Experiment Station with the joint organization of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of the Ministry of Science and Education.

Vice president of ANAS, general director of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies academician Irada Huseynova, deputy minister of Agriculture professor Elchin Zeynalov, head of Gobustan District Executive Power Adil Mammadov, director of the Research Institute of Crop Husbandry Faig Khudayev, head of Department of Agrarian Innovation Center Javanshir Talai, director of "Karabagh Fodder Factory" LLC Rafail Mahmudov, director of Gobustan RES Atabay Jahangirov, farmers and others talked about environmental problems that concern the world, climate changes and the duties of scientists and specialists in the fight against them, scientific activities that have been done and planned so far, at the event attended by wheat research scientists, breeders, young researchers and farmers.

In the speeches and discussions, it was noted that in the current era, when the possibilities of classical selection run out, the possibilities of expanding the cultivated areas are narrowing, and the global climate changes are intensifying, it is very important to conduct modern research, including at the genome level. Genome-wide association studies and next-generation sequencing technologies are considered the most powerful approaches available today in scientific breeding and other plant research for the identification of genetic variants associated with complex traits.

Carrying out plant research and scientific breeding with modern methods can be considered as the contribution of scientists to the call of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, "We must provide ourselves with wheat at least 70-75 percent". The Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies of MSE RA and the Gobustan Regional Experimental Station of the Institute of Crop Husbandry of the Ministry of Agriculture have had a long history of effective collaboration in this area. Already, 2 genotypes resistant to stress factors and highly productive have been selected with joint research and submitted to the state test as a new variety. The Gobustan Regional Experimental Station has set up experimental fields for these genotypes.

Academician Irada Huseynova pointed out in her speech that one of the main goals for the medium and long term in the agricultural field is to achieve an increase in the productivity and quality of grain crops, especially the strategic product of wheat, and to increase the income of agricultural producers in the period of climate changes and increasing stress. In recent years, serious steps have been taken in Azerbaijan in the direction of improving the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change, measures appreciated by the world community have also been taken. Several important fundamental and applied achievements have been achieved in the relevant directions in cooperation with the Research Institiute of Crop Husbandry and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, a memorial of the great scientist and social and political figure Academician Jalal Aliyev.

The field session concluded with an overview of the sample fields and the study procedure, followed by substantial discussions.