Raúl Benítez, former FAO ADG in Latin America and the Caribbean: "Eradicating hunger means transforming the world"

During his leadership of FAO in Latin America and the Caribbean, between 2012 and 2016, Raúl Benítez witnessed and played a key role in significant progress in the fight against hunger and the transformation of agrifood systems in the region. From the adoption of the 2030 Agenda to the development of the CELAC Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication Plan, Benítez promoted a comprehensive vision that placed inclusion, environmental sustainability, and human dignity at the center of public policy. In this conversation, he shares his personal experience, the most meaningful moments of his tenure, and his perspective on the challenges that still lie ahead.

-What did working at FAO mean to you?

Well, working at FAO is a wonderful opportunity for anyone. The idea of contributing to ensure that every inhabitant of our planet, or our country or city, can have a plate of food on the table is truly priceless. It's incredibly satisfying to work there.

-Is there any situation or story you remember as being important to you?

Yes, absolutely. There were many milestones throughout my time at FAO. Perhaps the most important was when CELAC — the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States — brought to the table a plan of action to eliminate hunger in the region. CELAC requested that FAO, along with ECLAC and other organizations, work together on a joint plan to eradicate hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean. That was undoubtedly one of the most significant achievements of a specific period of work in FAO across the region.

-What do you consider the biggest challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean in terms of food and agriculture during your time at FAO?

I would highlight three very important issues that are still relevant today and on which we must place even greater emphasis.

The first is hunger eradication. Eradicating hunger doesn't just mean reducing the number of people who go hungry — it means moving toward a different world. Ensuring everyone has adequate food means providing them with an opportunity they currently lack.

The second key issue is environmental protection. Right now, our production and consumption systems are harming the environment. We need to think seriously about leaving behind a better world, and at this rate, we might not have a livable world in the future, at least not for Homo sapiens. So, environmental concerns are a crucial issue we must keep in mind.

The third issue is the inclusion of productive sectors. There is not just one way to produce food — there are different approaches. Some involve large capital or capital-intensive production, but others, such as family farming, allow for the inclusion of groups who live in rural areas today. The goal is to incorporate them into a social and productive model that is both inclusive and sustainable. This is another key area we must consider.

-In September 2015, the United Nations announced the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, where agriculture and food were placed at the center of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, starting with SDG 1 on poverty eradication and SDG 2 on ending hunger. How do you assess FAO's early efforts in this regard?

Without a doubt, it was a very exciting moment because it represented another step forward in the effort to eradicate hunger in the region. The Millennium Development Goals had aimed to cut hunger in half, but now we were talking about eradicating it completely in Latin America and the Caribbean, and globally. It was necessary to prepare for this, to help countries develop national plans to meet these goals by the 2030 deadline.

This is a dynamic issue — we have to constantly deal with political shifts in the region — but it's something we must always keep in sight and keep pushing for.

-And what was that moment like for you personally, in September 2015, when you were serving as the regional representative?

It was undoubtedly a beautiful and joyful moment to see the countries of the region commit once again — and with even greater ambition — to the Sustainable Development Goals, not just to reduce hunger, but to eliminate it altogether.

It was, without question, one of the most rewarding moments we experienced — not only for me personally, but also for the incredible team I had the privilege of working with. There was immense joy in seeing the possibility of making our dream of a world free from hunger a reality. Working toward that dream was always a deeply fulfilling experience.

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