Latin America and the Caribbean: agrifood systems need to increase their resilience in the face of complex crises – FAO Director-General

Rome – Latin America and the Caribbean need to increase the resilience of their agrifood systems in the face of complex crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and thereby strengthen the region’s contribution to global food security, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), said Wednesday.

He spoke at the Round Table of the Americas on Inputs for Sustainable Agrifood Systems, organized by the Presidency of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) to discuss at ministerial level the challenges in the context of the current inflationary crisis, the need for strengthening of agrifood systems and the urgency of climate action.

Today’s meeting also saw the participation of Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply of Brazil and IABA Chair Teresa Cristina, the Special Envoy for the United Nations Food Systems Summit, Agnes Kalibata and Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Director-General, Manuel Otero.

The Latin American and Caribbean region has been hit particularly hard by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. During 2020, 267 million people in the region were food insecure - 60 million more than before the health crisis.

The agricultural sector plays a crucial role in the region with agrifood systems being responsible for between 9 percent and 35 percent of national GDP, contributing to 25 percent of exports. 

The Director-General called on countries to ensure that future investments and policy decisions impacting the sector become an opportunity to drive agrifood systems transformation, and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Among them are the decisions related to the use of agricultural inputs, as they will be critically important for ensuring sustainable agrifood systems.

Qu noted the numerous challenges faced by producers in planning their crops, including the current high and volatile fertilizer prices, combined with trade restrictions, logistical problems, and geopolitical tensions. But he also pointed to how this context offers the opportunity for using fertilizers more effectively and efficiently by increasing the use of detailed soil maps, and providing fertilizer blending that will maximize the return in yields.

Fostering innovation in agrifood systems

To achieve the agrifood system transformation, the Director-General highlighted the need for a holistic approach to minimize trade-offs using big data, science and innovation and enabling policies.

Collaboration among countries is key to promote intra-regional trade and “South-South learning,” he stressed.

“At FAO, we are constantly working to find ways in which innovation, data and technology can accelerate this transformation,” he said emphasizing the need to boost public and private investments, and increase access to convenient infrastructure and financial resources for farmers.

Digital technologies can increase productivity, enhance market opportunities through e-commerce and access to market information, and facilitate the inclusion of farmers in value chains, the Director-General added.

Digital potential in agriculture ranges from real-time climate information networks, extension networks, blockchain ledgers, financial products to facilitate access to insurance and credit, and e-commerce that leverages market linkages, shortens the food value chain and strengthens business ties.

Stepping up efforts to transform agrifood systems

In September last year, the United Nations Food Systems Summit, convened by the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, brought together 23 Member States from Latin America and the Caribbean to discuss how to bring about a transformation that will benefit the most vulnerable communities.

FAO contributed substantially to the Summit and the Pre-Summit, and is now hosting the Coordination Hub for follow-up action and to support implementation of national pathways.

Furthermore, the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 supports the 2030 Agenda through the transformation to more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems.

The 37th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean will take place in Ecuador on 28 March-1 April, and will provide a platform for countries from the region to come together to define their regional priorities, and to localize implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework.