For centuries, the fertile lands of Azerbaijan have been synonymous with abundance. During the Soviet era, Azerbaijan earned the prestigious, albeit informal, title of the "Empire’s Orchard. " From the high-altitude tea plantations of Lankaran to the sun-drenched tomato fields of Shamkir, Azerbaijani produce fed millions across the vast geography of the USSR. However, as the Soviet Union dissolved, so did the centralised supply chains, leaving the nation’s most resilient sector—agriculture—at a crossroads.