The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with Peru’s National Agricultural University, Universidad Agraria La Molina (UNALM), brought together ministers and government officials responsible for agriculture, trade and industry with food industry leaders, agro-industry specialists and civil society representatives at the Regional Agro-industries Forum for Latin America, to make an in-depth analysis of challenges and strategies for national and regional intervention. The forum, attended by 142 high-level delegates and professionals from 16 countries, examined the contribution of agro-industries to economic development and the challenges facing them. The forum also promoted dialogue between the private and public sectors in order to encourage partnerships for developing competitive agroindustries.