FAO reaffirms its commitment to cooperation with agricultural authorities from CELAC countries in the fight against hunger and malnutrition

Ministers, Secretaries, and other high-level agricultural officials from the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC, for its Spanish acronym) met in Colombia to analyze the progress achieved, review the challenges shared by the countries, and adopt community strategies to implement the CELAC Plan for food security, nutrition and the eradication of hunger 2030 (CELAC FSN 2030 Plan).

The plan is a regional roadmap with 4 pillars, 15 lines of action, and 141 suggested measures, considering the evidence and experience of the member countries. It is complemented by two additional components: one dedicated to specific implementation, governance and financing mechanisms and another focused on a follow-up and monitoring plan for progress in line with the 2030 Agenda.

The CELAC Food Security and Nutrition 2030 Plan was developed with the commitment of the CELAC member countries to consolidate the main advances aimed at eradicating hunger and malnutrition in all its forms. In its current version, it has the technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), and the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Sciences (IICA)—which together form the CELAC Food Security and Nutrition Plan 2030 Technical Committee—and the collaboration of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The meeting, convened by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Colombia in its capacity as Pro Tempore President of CELAC, was attended by ministers, deputy ministers, and delegations from 19 countries in the region. Participants reaffirmed the central role that the fight to eradicate hunger, poverty, and malnutrition plays in their respective national agendas.

The forum facilitated the exchange of best practices and lessons learned regarding policies and actions related to family farming, school feeding programs, food trade, sustainable production, public procurement from family farms, agroecology, and environmental sustainability. Early warning systems, climate change resilience, and risk management were also highlighted. Furthermore, the importance of access to and tenure of land and water for communities, reducing inequalities affecting women, prioritizing rural youth, and guaranteeing the right to adequate food were emphasized.

On this occasion, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Hawkyer, highlighted that “the CELAC Food Security and Nutrition 2030 Plan is the result of the political will of the countries to fight hunger and malnutrition. While LAC has reduced hunger and food insecurity for the fourth consecutive year, it has significant challenges to address by 2030, and this plan provides a concrete roadmap for cooperation and financing, as well as for achieving results at the national and territorial levels.”

Orellana argued that “collective efforts to reorient food and agricultural policies and transform our agri-food systems have led to a transformation in Latin America; our region is no longer just a recipient of aid, but a generator of global solutions.”

Before the delegations present at the meeting, the FAO reiterated its commitment to strengthening cooperation and the exchange of experiences, as well as providing technical support to Member States for the implementation of the CELAC Food Security and Nutrition 2030 Plan and national plans or chapters, and for the follow-up and monitoring of the results of this implementation.

At the close of the meeting, the outgoing and incoming Pro Tempore Presidencies of CELAC, represented by the Ministers of Colombia and Uruguay respectively, signed a declaration by the CELAC Member States. This declaration specifically recognized that the progress made in implementing the CELAC FSN 2030 Plan effectively addresses the link between agri-food systems, biodiversity, food security, and nutrition. The Member States also committed to continuing to work together in a coordinated manner to keep the region at the forefront of the fight against hunger and regional cooperation.

The Pro Tempore Presidency of the CELAC FSN Plan was also transferred from Colombia to Uruguay, with the aim of further strengthening regional cooperation efforts.