Turkmenistan participated in an international training seminar on sustainable agriculture and water resources management in Italy

From June 14 to 20, 2026, an international training seminar within the framework of the "Building Resilient Institutional Dialogue for Governance and Education (BRIDGE)" project was held in Bologna, Italy, under the "Italy – Central Asia" cooperation format. Teachers from the S. A. Niyazov Turkmen Agricultural University also participated in this event dedicated to the topic of "Sustainable Development of Agriculture." Prior to the seminar, which was coordinated by the European Union and Ca' Foscari University of Venice, a two-week online training course on regional cooperation, ecology, and water resources management was organized for the participants.

The training program commenced at the Asia Institute of the University of Bologna, one of the oldest and most prestigious higher education institutions in the world. During the opening ceremony, the university’s Vice-Rector and the heads of the institute delivered speeches, emphasizing the significance of international scientific cooperation for sustainable development. On the first day of the seminar, official representatives from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan presented the ongoing projects in their respective countries concerning agriculture and water-saving technologies.

Throughout the program, leading Italian professors delivered lectures on precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, cyber-tools, digital systems, and the impacts of climate change on the agricultural sector. Participants also engaged in practical sessions and group work focused on combating drought, utilizing innovative irrigation systems, and designing international-level projects.

Field visits played a vital role in the training curriculum. Participants visited the headquarters of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government, where they learned about European Union agricultural standards and the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System (AKIS). Furthermore, excursions were organized to the world-renowned "Canale Emiliano Romagnolo" irrigation canal, the "ACQUA CAMPUS" research and testing center, the "Codigoro" pumping station—one of the largest hydraulic facilities in Europe—and the "Salvi Vivai" innovative plant nursery. At these sites, the operation of innovative hydraulic technologies, water-saving cyber-tools, and methods for cultivating climate-resilient crops were demonstrated in practice.

Upon successful completion of both the practical and theoretical phases of the training program, participants were awarded official international certificates by the leadership of the Asia Institute of the University of Bologna and international experts. As a result of the visit, the participants gained valuable insights into the innovative experience of Italian specialists in sustainable agriculture, precision irrigation, and resilient hydraulic systems, while also mastering international standards for designing collaborative scientific projects for the future.