37th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean is committed to confronting and overcoming the most complex humanitarian, economic and social crisis in recent decades, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. No other region has been hit so hard.

The agri-food sector is key to move beyond the crisis. From farms all the way to consumers' tables, the people, organizations and businesses that make up the region's agri-food systems employ tens of millions of people.

These systems are responsible for between 9 and 35 percent of the Gross Domestic Product of the countries of the region, and contribute 25 percent of their exports.

Without optimizing the contribution of agri-food systems, it will be much more difficult to get out of the crisis. However, there is broad agreement that the region's agrifood systems must be transformed, according to the priorities and capacities of each country.

This transformation is also essential to move towards more sustainable, resilient agriculture and agri-food systems, adapted to climate change.

Without it, we will not be able to ensure safe, nutritious and healthy food for the entire regional population, especially for the 267 million people who suffer from food insecurity.

Nor will we be able to create conditions for rural inhabitants to overcome of poverty, which affects 45% of the said population.

FAO Member countries unanimously approved the new FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031, which calls for supporting the 2030 Agenda through transformation towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, to achieve better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The Regional Conference is held every two years and brings together the governments of the 33 Member States of FAO in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish the regional priorities of the Organization for the next biennium.