On October 15, the international conference on "Challenges in Energy, Food, Environment, and Climate Security" opened in Baku.

The event was jointly organized by the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the State Agency for Science and Education, and the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies.

The conference was opened by Academician Isa Habibbayli, President of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, who highlighted the importance of the event and described the holding of such a prestigious international conference in Azerbaijan as a completely logical and well-founded step. He noted that the conference’s theme resonates with the main provisions of the program of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29), which Azerbaijan hosted at a high level last year. He also emphasized that today’s event serves to further advance the ideas and objectives of COP29 within the scientific domain.

Academician Isa Habibbayli stated that the organization of such a prestigious event as COP29 in Azerbaijan, under the will, patronage, and participation of President Ilham Aliyev, is a logical outcome of our country’s contribution to the transition to a green economy and to the protection of the environment as well as the prevention of climate change at the national, regional, and global levels. According to him, COP29 has brought innovations not only to various areas of public life and the economy in Azerbaijan but also to scientific thought. The world-class international event COP29 has become an important milestone in the history of our country and a significant page in the global history of science.

“Within and after the COP29 event held in Azerbaijan, such concepts as green economic zone, green energy, green energetics, green technology, and green transformation have gone beyond being merely scientific directions and have become expressions of reality,” said the President of ANAS. He noted that the “green energy zones” declared by the Head of State in the Nakhchivan, Karabakh, and East Zangezur regions are successfully continuing their activities.

Academician Isa Habibbayli emphasized that important State Programs are being implemented in Azerbaijan to promote the development of “green energy.” He noted that Azerbaijan ranks among the leading countries not only within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) but also globally in the use of alternative energy sources. He stated that, along with Azerbaijan’s domestic potential, the wide attraction of foreign investment as part of state policy in the use of alternative and renewable energy sources will further accelerate the development of this field in the country. In the near future, Azerbaijan will become not only an exporter of oil and gas but also of alternative energy sources.

According to him, the State Program defined by President Ilham Aliyev on the use of alternative and renewable energy sources will turn Azerbaijan into a country with rich potential in this field on a global scale.

The President of ANAS added that, situated at the crossroads of various cultures and continents, Azerbaijan has not only been engaged in the exploitation, production, and export of a wide range of energy sources but also in their study, research, and scientific justification. In the country, major scientific schools have been established that focus on alternative energy sources, ecological issues, food, environmental, and climate security, producing prominent scientists who have devoted their lives to the development of these fields, and research in these areas continues. For more than half a century, these issues have been studied and developed in several research institutions under the Ministry of Science and Education, and their findings are presented to the public as scientifically grounded reflections of Azerbaijan’s realities.

At the conclusion of his speech, Academician Isa Habibbayli expressed his confidence that the international conference, attended by more than 140 scientists from 14 countries, would promote a deeper understanding of Azerbaijan’s experience, facilitate effective scientific cooperation, and lead to the development of joint projects and new ideas. He also wished success to the ongoing work of the event.

Next, Acting Rector of Sumqayit State University, Corresponding Member of ANAS, Professor Aminagha Sadigov took the floor, stating that environmental and climate security is one of the most pressing scientific and practical issues of the modern era. He emphasized that addressing these challenges requires deep and interdisciplinary approaches at the global level. He noted that, for this purpose, various scientific platforms are being established in a number of developed countries, and large-scale projects are being implemented.

Professor Aminağa Sadigov highlighted that under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan has hosted important international initiatives not only in economic, political, and cultural fields but also in the areas of science and education. He cited the holding of international events such as the "Eurasian Universities Summit" in the country as a clear example of this.

He noted that in recent years, the Ministry of Science and Education has been implementing systematic measures to enhance the organizational and scientific quality of international and national scientific conferences held in the country. The Ministry supports the holding of conferences that meet international standards and scientific requirements, and as a result of these efforts, the prestige and effectiveness of scientific events organized in Azerbaijan have increased significantly.

He emphasized that, in line with the priorities of state policy, the Ministry of Science and Education is implementing a comprehensive action plan aimed at ensuring sustainable development, the efficient use of alternative energy sources, the mitigation of ecological problems, and other related areas. To this end, the Ministry supports scientific research projects, international and national conferences, as well as various initiatives. At the same time, relevant changes are being made to textbooks and curricula to integrate the principles of sustainable development into secondary and higher education systems.

Stating that “in recent years, the Ministry of Science and Education has funded a number of projects to stimulate scientific activity and promote research in priority areas,” Aminagha Sadigov emphasized that the Ministry provides financial and institutional support for research carried out by many scientific institutions, including the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, in strategic fields such as the environment, climate change, artificial intelligence, and information technologies.

Professor Aminağa Sadigov stated that today’s conference serves as an important platform for joint discussion and collaboration among the scientific community, government institutions, and representatives of the private sector. He noted that the discussions held within the framework of the conference will provide an opportunity to develop new scientific approaches in the fields of energy, food, environment, and climate security, as well as to prepare practical recommendations.

At the event, the co-chair of the conference, Azerbaijani scientist Professor Rashad Karimov from Auburn University, USA, took the floor and noted that the international event’s theme covering various fields of science was not accidental. He emphasized that in the modern era, the mentioned challenges cannot be addressed through a single scientific discipline, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary research. He also expressed his gratitude to the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Academician Irada Huseynova, and her team for the high-level organization of the conference.

Subsequently, at the conference, Professor Jamal Musayev, Director of the Emerson Center for Scientific Computing at Emory University, USA; Professor Ali Naz from Osnabrück University of Applied Sciences, Germany; Professor Byeong-ha Lee, Head of the Plant Gene Regulation Laboratory at Sogang University, Republic of Korea; Professor Aziz Eftekhari from Ege University, Turkiye; and Professor Shakhlo Miralimova, Director of the Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, took the floor. They highlighted the scientific significance of the international conference in facilitating discussions on current topics and achieving productive outcomes, and expressed their gratitude to the organizers.

In conclusion, Vice-President of ANAS and Director General of the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnologies, Academician Irada Huseynova, delivered a speech emphasizing that the main goal of the conference is to develop strategic plans for scientific partnership, define future research directions, share innovative solutions contributing to the transition to “green energy” and a clean environment, and generate new scientific ideas that ensure the sustainability of society and the economy.

"The ideas that will be voiced here and the results that will be presented will give impetus to international cooperation, the creation of joint projects and regional innovation centers. Science carries not only technological, but also moral value. Finding solutions for biological, energy, food and climate security is the highest scientific mission that serves human goals," the scientist added.

The Vice President of ANAS noted that one of the key highlights of the conference program is the upcoming “Jalal Aliyev’s Lectures,” dedicated to the memory of the prominent scientist and public figure, academician Jalal Aliyev, to be held on the final day of the event. She emphasized that the “Jalal Aliyev’s Lectures” will further enhance the scientific and moral value of this international conference.

Academician Irada Huseynova emphasized that the conference is also dedicated to an important milestone in the history of Azerbaijani science — the 80th anniversary of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. She noted that the high-level celebration of this anniversary once again confirms the invaluable role of ANAS in the organization, governance, and development of science in our country, as well as in the formation of the national intellectual potential.

Academician Irada Huseynova stated that the international conference has become an important platform for global scientific cooperation, with the participation of more than 140 presenters from 14 countries. She emphasized that solving existing problems in areas such as “green energy,” “food and nutrition security,” “bio- and ecological safety,” and “a healthy environment” is possible not only through technology and capital but also through knowledge and scientific integration. “If we want to move confidently toward a green future,” she said, “it is essential to bring together scientists, engineers, agrarian, and biomedical specialists working in a multidisciplinary environment on a unified scientific platform.”

The Vice President noted that research conducted in various countries around the world shows that artificial intelligence, machine learning, bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and nanotechnologies are playing an increasingly important role in ensuring energy, food, and climate stability.

She also spoke about the significant scientific and practical achievements attained in recent years in Azerbaijan in the fields of bioeconomy, “green technologies”, and biotechnological research with the support of the state. She noted that the “green zone” model being developed in Karabakh and East Zangazur is attracting international interest as a unique approach to ensuring energy and environmental security. At present, new methodological approaches based on artificial intelligence are being developed across the country in agrobiotechnology, soil and water resource management, as well as in climate modeling.

Expressing her confidence that the conference would become an important milestone in terms of scientific exchange, new partnerships, and sustainable development, academician Irada Huseynova wished all participants productive discussions and new scientific achievements.

The event then continued with a plenary session.

It should be noted that the international conference will conclude on October 17.