The agricultural policy of Uzbekistan is aimed at solving the problems of integrating science, education and agricultural production, transforming and modernizing the industry and bringing it to a qualitatively new level of transformation, a new minister of Agriculture with a high level of professional training and work experience will have to solve.

It is precisely these criteria and requirements for the minister that the most suitable leader capable of leading this complex industry meets academician, full member of the National Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the TWAS World Academy, Chairman of the State Council for Cotton Production of Uzbekistan Ibrahim Yulchievich Abdurakhmonov, appointed Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan on October 7, 2023, who previously worked as Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

"In 1997, he graduated from the Faculty of Biotechnology of Tashkent State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan). In 2001, he graduated from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University (USA) with a Master of Science degree in plant breeding as a recipient of a scholarship from the Umid Foundation. Then he returned to Uzbekistan to continue his scientific work. His current academic title is academician.

In 2012, Ibrahim Yulchievich Abdurakhmanov founded the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics of Uzbekistan. In 2010, he was awarded the TWAS and ICAC Awards for outstanding contributions to cotton genomics and biotechnology. He worked as the Minister of Innovative Development in 2017-2022. In 2022, he was awarded the title of "Ambassador of Friendship of the Silk Road" by the Chinese Center for International Cultural Exchange (CICEC) and Global People magazine. In 2023, he was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. He is a full member of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the World Academy of Sciences.

Ibrahim Yulchievich began his career in 1997-1998 as a junior researcher, a graduate student at the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants. In 2002-2012, he was the project manager of the laboratory of the Center for Genomic Technologies of the Institute of Genetics and Experimental Biology of Plants of the Academy of Sciences. In 2002-2008, he was engaged in research on cotton genomics in collaboration with American scientists. As a result of these studies, a gene-knockout technology was created for the production of high-quality, long-stemmed, prolific and precocious cotton varieties with a developed root system.

In 2008, he defended his PhD thesis in the field of molecular genetics and received the degree of Doctor of Biological Sciences. In 2011, he was awarded the title of Professor of the Department of Molecular Genetics and Molecular Biotechnology of the Academy of Sciences. In 2012, Ibrahim Abdurakhmonov led the process of creating a new independent research center - the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics at the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources and the Uzpakhtasanoat Association, and later was appointed head of this organization. In 2016, this center was considered the largest scientific institution of the Academy of Sciences.

Ibrahim Abdurakhmanov became a member of the World Academy of Sciences on October 26, 2014 in Muscat. In 2017, he was appointed Acting Vice President of the Academy of Sciences.

On November 29, 2017, he was appointed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the post of Minister of Innovative Development. Under the leadership of Academician Abdurakhmanov, the "Strategy of innovative development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2019-2021" and "Strategy of innovative development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2022-2026" were developed and approved by the decision of the President. By Presidential decree dated July 7, 2022, Ibrahim Abdurakhmanov was appointed chairman of the Cotton Council.

At the end of 2022, the structure of the Government of Uzbekistan was restructured. By presidential decree, Ibrahim Abdurakhoanov was appointed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

Professor Abdurakhmonov is a member of the Executive Committee of the Higher Attestation Commission under the Cabinet of Ministers, which coordinates and certifies the awarding of academic degrees in biology, agricultural sciences and veterinary medicine. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the International Cotton Genome Initiative (ICGI) and the International Association of Cotton Researchers (ICRA).

Ibrahim Abdurakhmanov conducts a special course on molecular genetics, genetic engineering, biotechnology and human genetics for students of Tashkent State Agrarian University, National University of Uzbekistan and Tashkent Pharmaceutical Institute. He supervised the work of senior students in higher education institutions, advised a number of PhD and doctoral dissertations." https://platina.uz/2023/10/25/ibrohim-abdurahmonov-aslida-kim

For the most difficult sector of the Uzbek economy, agriculture, with the experience of director of the Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences, Minister of Innovative Development and then head of the joint Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Ibrahim Yulchievich Abdurakhmonov is a worthy academic with world recognition, a full member of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and the TWAS World Academy.

As Chairman of the Cotton Growing Council, he can fully cope with the most complex management mechanism of the industry. In a difficult period of industry transformation, complex transformations in the scientific, educational and innovation-advisory systems of the industry, where, in fact, a complex process of creating a new system, generally recognized in the world as an extension, is taking place. In the developed countries of the world, this is the third pillar, along with science and education. This system is perceived in the same way as science and education, one of the main three sides of the triangle surrounding it.

We sincerely congratulate Ibrahim Yulchievich Abdurakhmonov on assuming the new position of head of the industry, and wish him success in his tireless work on the implementation of the New Uzbekistan 2030 Action Strategy.

Tashmatov A.A.,

Vice-President of the Association of Agricultural Research Organizations of Central Asia and the South Caucasus,

Member of the Steering Committee of the Global Agricultural Research Forum (GFAR),

Director of the Regional Center for Agricultural Extension Services, Candidate of Economic Sciences, Associate Professor 121