LARC38 Closing Statement

The Honourable Chairperson of the Regional Ministerial Conference,

Excellences,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

I would like to start by thanking the President of Guyana, the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Vice Ministers, and supporting teams who ensured the success of this conference.

I would like to remind you that this Regional Ministerial Conference is not a consultation body, it is a decision-making one because you have the ownership, leadership, and authority. And I thank you for your contribution.

I also wish to thank the people and government of Guyana for the warm hospitality and continuous support - thanks to you we had a very successful and pleasant Regional Ministerial Conference.

My warm congratulations to you all, for your hard work, fruitful discussions and concrete contributions that made this ministerial conference successful.

Your collective efforts have had a positive impact on the priorities of the region, and I appreciate your dedication to our common goals for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, and beyond.

I am pleased that we have had the opportunity to convene for this in-person and hybrid meeting, building on our previous meeting in Quito, Ecuador, in 2022.

Our journey "from Quito to Georgetown" has been a fruitful process of deep discussions that enabled us to become more efficient and agile in serving and supporting the Members in the region.

I am happy to see the remarkable unity among the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, as you have come together to establish a shared vision for the future, to achieve good food for all, for today and tomorrow.

By embracing the Four Betters – better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind - as set out in the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31, and forging new innovative pathways to transform our agrifood systems to be more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient, and more sustainable.

The discussions on thematic areas will further strengthen our work. My visit to Guyana, seeing its water and natural resources, and aquaculture has been a humbling experience.

The discussion on the implementation of the FAO Hand-in-Hand Initiative, both at country level and its regional initiatives, which are of high priority to advance our agenda for the eradication of hunger and poverty, were also important. I was delighted to see so many initiatives in the region and the subregion, so you should take a leading role, as well as to develop countries' capacity to attract increased and targeted investment, and to mobilize financial resources in support of national needs.

In addition, building resilience has been recognized as critical for the Caribbean, particularly for the specific characteristics of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) who are facing multiples shocks and risks due to the increasing threats posed by the climate change and crisis.

Members have addressed sustainable fisheries and aquaculture through the Blue Transformation approach, and this ministerial conference also identified trade as a strategic mechanism to eradicate hunger, malnutrition, and ensure food security in the region.

Blue describes oceans. Your continent has a huge potential; you have so much green, so much blue. I appreciate the leadership of President Ali in taking the leadership of CARICOM.

The challenges of the climate crisis were also identified as a strong priority for this region due to the broad inter-connections between water, forests, biodiversity, and soil specially for Caricom. FAO wants to support you. Passion and determination through the Office of SIDS.

And I am pleased that the FAO Global Roadmap on Achieving SDG2 without breaching the 1.5C threshold could provide a guiding framework for countries to take appropriate policy decisions and innovative actions, addressing the issues of hunger and climate in a holistic manner. This is why we launched it together at the COP28 in the UAE.

I am also pleased to note the good discussions during the Regional Foresight Session on the different scenarios that our agrifood systems could face, and the importance of an evidence-based and scientific approach to planning for the future.

This has been a unique opportunity to discuss challenges, opportunities, and the different paths we can follow.

Deep and fruitful discussions between Members and FAO highlighted critical areas of consideration, covering a range of topics to advance the transformation of agrifood systems based on country context and needs, and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

I am pleased to note that the four priorities set for the next biennium are in line with the technical and policy assistance we are set to provide, and FAO remains committed to supporting the region in achieving the transformation to achieve sustainable agrifood systems.

Your recognition of the importance of a modern, digital, and efficient FAO Country Offices Network to support countries in achieving the SDGs is very important to us.

Your region needs to speed up digitalization, otherwise you will be left behind. This is a challenge for this region; and the design must include households and rural areas.

We will keep working together to ensure an even more modern and effective Country Offices.

Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the few regions that have demonstrated progress in the fight against hunger, reducing the figures of undernourishment.

We should learn from your progress, success stories and best practices, and replicate them in similar contexts, as much as possible.

This doesn’t mean that we should not act without delay to still fight against inequalities, fostering more resilient communities, and preparing for timely response to the impacts of the climate crisis.

In closing, I wish to convey my deepest appreciation to His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Republic of Guyana, and to the Chairperson of this Regional Ministerial Conference, The Honourable Minister of Agriculture of Guyana, with whom we look forward to working closely with over the next biennium.

I must add that I have enjoyed every moment of my stay here!

Many thanks to all of you for your dedication, cooperation, and leadership – I know we are all committed to reach Brazil in 2026 with more tangible results and real impact on the ground for people and the planet. 

Thank you.