Rates of obesity are high and growing across all socioeconomic levels. Regional poverty is much more severe in rural areas. Addressing climate change requires major agricultural transformation

These issues brought together over forty agriculture and rural development stakeholders who agreed on seven priorities for improving Jamaica’s food security and developing the agriculture sector. During a national consultation workshop organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), representatives from various government ministries, academia, civil society and international development agencies engaged in discussions to identify and prioritize key opportunities and national perspectives on three thematic areas: ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, promoting sustainable rural development and climate resilient and sustainable agriculture. 

Among the priorities identified were the need for improved governance, increased participation of civil society, the streamlining of Information Management Systems, the promotion of experience exchanges across countries, improved Disaster Risk Management, building the resilience of Small Island Developing States and improved provision of nutritionally relevant food by production and trade systems. These cross-cutting national priorities will be presented by Jamaica’s delegation to the 35th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in Montego Bay next week.

National Consultations for the FAO Regional Conference

The 35^th Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean is FAO’s highest governing body that will meet to establish a regional perspective on a framework for the organization’s work in 2018 and 2019. National Consultations are being conducted across the region in the lead up to the Conference to offer guidance to national delegations on major priorities to be addressed relating to food and nutrition security and rural development. National delegations will examine these priorities to establish regional coherence on global policies and actions under three thematic areas on fighting hunger and malnutrition, building a future without rural poverty, and transforming agriculture to be sustainable and resilient to climate change.

The Regional Conference takes place from 5^th – 8^th March 2018 in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Prime Minister of Jamaica, Honourable Andrew Holness and Ministers of Agriculture, Environment, Social Security, Labour and Education from FAO’s 33 Member Countries in Latin America and the Caribbean will be in attendance. Jamaica’s delegation will be headed by Honourable Karl Samuda, Minister in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries.

The Regional Conference will also offer an opportunity to deepen FAO's collaboration with its member countries and help them move closer to achieving the 17 goals of the new 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.