Launch of CAF’s new-look-agriculture strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean

Live broadcast

Background

Latin America and the Caribbean produce food for nearly 1.3 billion people, grow 14% of the world's crops, are home to 50% of global biodiversity, 30% of arable land, 30% of fresh water, and 57% of the planet's primary forests.

Exports from the region's agricultural sector represent 18.4% of world exports in the sector and triple imports, with a positive agrifood trade balance of approximately US$238 billion annually (OPSAa, 2022), with the countries of the region being world leaders in various productions, and Latin America and the Caribbean being the main net exporter of food at the global level.

The region's agrifood systems are critical for the provision of food and nutritional security at the local, regional, and global levels. On the other hand, they are vulnerable to the increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including drought.

There are sustainable, regenerative, and resilient agricultural practices that can reduce climate impacts while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting and restoring strategic natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, and conserving key natural resources such as water and soils.

On the other hand, the agricultural sector presents new development opportunities for the region, such as the bioeconomy, superfoods, and creative economies, associated with the region's culinary culture.

A new vision is required for the sector based on the concept of prosperity along the entire value chain, from the producer to the consumer, allowing for improved incomes, reduced poverty and inequality, greater regional and territorial integration, productive development based on natural capital, more knowledge and innovation, and support for greater investment and financing in physical and digital infrastructure and access to markets.

Agenda

• 18:00 | Welcome and opening remarks
  • Máximo Torero Cullen – Chief Economist of FAO and Regional Representative a.i. for Latin America and the Caribbean (video).
  • Eve Crowley – Deputy Regional Representative of FAO for Latin America and the Caribbean and FAO Representative in Chile.
• 18:10 | Session I: A strategic outlook on the Region’s agricultural sector
  • Sergio Díaz-Granados – Executive President of CAF
  • S.E. Esteban Valenzuela Van Treek – Minister of Agriculture of Chile
  • S.E. Alfredo Fratti Silveira – Minister of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries of Uruguay
  • S.E. Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas (to be confirmed) – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, Pro-Tempore Presidency of CELAC
• 18:45 | Session II: Presentation of CAF’s new agricultural prosperity strategy
  • Ignacio Lorenzo Arana – Director of Technical Advisory on Biodiversity and Climate at CAF
  • Maximiliano Alonso – Senior Adviser for Mexico and Central America at CAF
  • Presentation video of the strategy
• 19:05 | Session III: Dialogue on the future of the agricultural sector for the Region and the World
  • Moderator: Alicia Montalvo – Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF
  • Joaquín Arias – Coordinator of the Public Policy Observatory for Agri-Food Systems (OPSAa) of IICA
  • Joao Intini – Food Systems Policy Officer at FAO
  • Gonzalo Uriarte – President of the Food and Beverage Association of Chile