A meeting was held at the Center for Analysis of Economic Reforms and Communication (CAERC) with representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) within the framework of a textbook project titled "Food Safety." The meeting was attended by Mary Kenny, a responsible officer from the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, and Beyrak Hajiyev from the FAO Partnership and Liaison Office in Azerbaijan. Representing CAERC were Ramil Huseyn, Deputy Executive Director; Latif Zeynalli, Head of the State Programs Division; and Gunay Rahimli, Senior Specialist.

Ramil Huseyn, Deputy Executive Director of CAERC, stated that the Center is currently monitoring the implementation of 26 state programs, including the state program on food safety. As one of the country's leading think tanks, CAERC considers the preparation and coordination of books in high-demand areas as one of its core activities. Given the strategic importance of food safety in the country, the "Food Safety" textbook project was initiated in collaboration with the Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (AFSA). It was noted that after the textbook is approved by the Scientific Council of UNEC, it will be used for teaching purposes in higher education institutions. Ramil Huseyn emphasized that it is essential for the book to reflect international approaches alongside local experience, making FAO's expert support particularly significant.

Mary Kenny noted that FAO is actively involved in the processes implemented in the field of food safety in Azerbaijan and highly appreciated CAERC's initiative regarding this textbook project. She mentioned that there is a demand for such a textbook in other countries across the region as well. In this regard, it was noted that publishing the book in both Azerbaijani and English would be highly beneficial. Emphasizing that the sharing of knowledge and international expertise is a key priority for FAO, Mary Kenny expressed the organization's pleasure in contributing to the project.

During the meeting, the steps to be taken in the next phase were discussed, as well as FAO's participation in the preparation of the book and the provision of expert reviews. It was noted that the textbook, prepared with the involvement of the academic community, government agencies, and private sector representatives, will serve as a fundamental resource in the field of food safety for both Azerbaijan and the region with the support of FAO.