The 38th Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean, hosted in Guyana, ended Thursday (March 21) with the unanimous support of the 33 member states to FAO’s strategic framework 2022-31 and the four priorities that will guide the work of the Rome-based organisation for the next biennium. 

The four interconnected regional priorities reflect the ‘Four Betters of FAO’— four interconnected dimensions that will contribute to the transformation of agrifood systems through the promotion of more efficient, inclusive and sustainable production—ending hunger and achieving food security and nutrition; sustainable management of natural resources and adaptation to climate change; and reducing inequalities and poverty and promoting resilience.

FAO director-general Qu Dongyu, in his remarks during the closing ceremony, expressed the importance of this instance as a crucial platform for policymakers to accelerate efforts towards transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable, leaving no country behind.

In line with the FAO Strategic Framework, the director general expressed the UN organisation’s commitment to supporting members to foster greater cooperation, investment, innovation and technology, both within and beyond the region.

“I am pleased to note that the four priorities set for the next biennium are in line with the technical and policy assistance we are set to provide, and FAO remains committed to supporting the region in achieving the transformation to achieve sustainable agrifood systems”, said Qu.

During the opening ceremony, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali highlighted the importance of the regional conference and said that creating resilient and climate-protected agrifood systems is an imperative task going forward, and “decision-making must be data-driven as far as possible”.

He also called for a greater focus on nutrition and a shift “back to the bowl from the box.

Mustapha Zulfikar, portfolio minister for agriculture in Guyana and chairman of the conference stated: “During these days, we have addressed issues that are fundamental for our region, fisheries, and aquaculture for sustainability; investments for resilience; sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems; reducing hunger and malnutrition through trade as a strategic driver of development in the region, among others.”

“Our work does not end with the closing of this conference. I urge you to continue sharing the reflections and the connections you have made at this conference so that our dialogue becomes concrete initiatives that drive transformational changes in our countries,” he added.  

The FAO regional conference held ministerial roundtables focused on how to advance fisheries and aquaculture under the ‘blue transformation’ approach, harnessing trade as a strategic driver to reduce hunger and malnutrition in the region and addressing the challenges of the water-forest-biodiversity-soil nexus in the context of climate change.

The event had representatives from all thirty-three member countries. Eighteen Ministers and three vice ministers attended in person and eleven ministers and five vice ministers virtually.

Both the senior officer and ministerial meetings of the regional conference were followed by 12,000 online viewers, including decision-makers and non-governmental actors from academia, private sector and civil society.

The agenda also included high-level special events focused on how science and digital innovation can bolster family farming, the need for agrifood systems transformation in the region’s small island developing states, investment targeting through FAO’s Hand in Hand Initiative, and foresight drivers and triggers relevant for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Brazil to host next regional conference

Brazil also used the backdrop of the Georgetown meeting to announce its decision to host the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean.

President Inacio Lula da Silva, during his intervention as president pro tempore of G20, said in a letter: “I am pleased to announce Brazil’s willingness to host the 39th FAO Regional Conference in 2026. It will be a unique opportunity for us to evaluate our progress and our strategies in terms of food and nutrition security.