Dominican Republic launches US$20 million initiative to modernize food production and strengthen food security

A new financing mechanism of approximately US$20 million has been launched in the Dominican Republic to support the modernization and competitiveness of the country's food production systems.

The initiative brings together Banco de Reservas (Banreservas), the Ministry of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to promote investments that enhance agricultural productivity, strengthen resilience and contribute to more sustainable agri-food systems.

The financing will support projects focused on agricultural mechanization, the adoption of innovative technologies, efficient management of water and natural resources, climate change adaptation and productivity improvements across the agricultural sector.

In addition to financial resources, participating producers and agribusinesses will have access to technical assistance from FAO specialists. This support will help strengthen investment proposals and facilitate the adoption of sustainable and efficient production practices tailored to local needs and opportunities.

“We want these resources to translate into innovation, better production processes and higher productivity for the agricultural sector,” said Leonardo Aguilera, Executive President of Banreservas.

The agreement comes at an important moment for the Dominican Republic. In July 2026, FAO confirmed that the country had reduced the prevalence of undernourishment to below 2.5 percent, the threshold used by the Organization to identify countries that have effectively moved off the Hunger Map.

Building on this achievement, the new initiative seeks to strengthen productive capacity and support the long-term sustainability of food security gains.

“The Dominican Republic has taken an extraordinary step by reducing undernourishment below the threshold established by FAO. The challenge now is to sustain this achievement by ensuring that investments in agriculture are supported by sound technical guidance and contribute to more efficient and sustainable production,” said Rodrigo Castañeda, FAO Representative in the Dominican Republic.

Under the partnership, Banreservas will provide financing, the Ministry of Agriculture will help align investments with national priorities for the agricultural sector, and FAO will contribute technical expertise and knowledge to support project design and implementation.

Eligible investments may include precision agriculture, productive infrastructure, efficient water management systems, renewable energy solutions, reduction of post-harvest losses, strengthening of agricultural value chains and other innovations that help improve efficiency and competitiveness.

The mechanism will also support projects designed to address key challenges facing the agricultural sector, including labour shortages, climate-related risks and the need to increase productivity.

“Achieving this milestone in the fight against hunger does not mean the work is finished. We must produce more, produce better and do so more efficiently. Technology, mechanization and access to financing will be essential to further strengthen food security in the Dominican Republic,” said Francisco Oliverio Espaillat Bencosme, Minister of Agriculture.

The financing facility will have an initial allocation of approximately DOP 1.18 billion and may be expanded in the future to support additional investments in the agri-food sector.

The initiative is aligned with FAO's vision of the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, supporting the transition towards more efficient, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems.

Through this joint effort, the three institutions aim to help ensure that the Dominican Republic's progress in food security is underpinned by a productive sector that is increasingly modern, competitive and sustainable.