Today, the region of Latin America and the Caribbean is in a very difficult situation. It faces the challenge of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, including eradicating hunger and extreme poverty, transforming food systems, containing the increase in malnutrition, generating new opportunities for economic development in rural areas, and making agriculture more sustainable and resilient to climate change. All of the above has become even more complex in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, with its profound impacts on health, the economy, and social well-being.

All these challenges require joint solutions between the actors in each country, and between countries.

The Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is held every two years. It brings together the governments of its 33 Member States in Latin America and the Caribbean to face the main regional challenges in food and agriculture.

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Director General, in consultation with the government of the Republic of Nicaragua, and after deliberation with the Regional Group, decided to postpone the 36th session of the Conference. The FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean will now take place on October 19-21, 2020.