Strategic partners engaged in dialogue with FAO on key areas of work to transform agrifood systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

Representatives from regional organizations, United Nations agencies, international financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations took part in an initial dialogue convened by the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for Latin America and the Caribbean. The meeting aimed to assess challenges and identify priority areas of work to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems in the region, in the context of FAO’s 2026–2027 programming cycle.

Held virtually, the event marked the beginning of preparations for the 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC39) and built upon the mandate set by Member States during the 38th Regional Conference (LARC38), held in March 2024 in Guyana. At that meeting, countries defined four priorities for the 2024–2025 biennium: efficient and inclusive production; ending hunger and improving nutrition; sustainable management of natural resources and climate action; and reducing inequalities and poverty.

The event was opened by Máximo Torero, FAO Chief Economist and Acting Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, who presented the current state of food security and nutrition in the region based on the latest 2025 SOFI report, and outlined the implementation approach for the four regional priorities for 2026–2027.

Throughout the session, participants discussed the political and financial landscape of Latin America and the Caribbean, and examined the effects of inequality, inflationary pressures on food prices, and low economic growth. They also highlighted the region’s steady reduction in undernourishment as an encouraging sign of progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The dialogue invited strategic partners from international and regional integration organizations, development cooperation agencies, and non-governmental stakeholders to share their views on major trends influencing agrifood systems transformation, and to provide recommendations on priority work areas for the upcoming biennium.

Participants included: Marco Llinás, Director of the Division of Productive and Business Development, ECLAC; Lucrecia Rodríguez, Executive Secretariat, Central American Agricultural Council (CAC); Denisse Murillo, Senior Officer for Agricultural and Agroindustrial Project Development, CARICOM; Romina Ordoñez, Senior Specialist, Productivity, Trade and Innovation Sector Division (PTI/ARD), IDB; Miguel Guzmán, Lead Executive, Technical Advisory Division on Biodiversity and Climate, CAF; Ingrid Figueroa, Executive Secretary of the Central American Integration System (SICA); Jose Arturo Santos, Regional Technical Advisor, UNDP Environment and Energy team; Andrea Brusco, Acting Deputy Regional Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Georgina Catacora-Vargas, Representative of the Scientific and Academic Sector; Laura Hernández, Representative of Civil Society; and Camilo Montes, Representative of the Private Sector.

The event concluded with a summary of key contributions, which will help guide and strengthen FAO’s technical and policy support to countries in the region at a pivotal moment in the journey toward more efficient, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.