FAO conference opens today in Guyana with focus on malnutrition, climate change

The imminent 38th session of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is set to open today, with a heavy focus on climate change, food insecurity, and malnutrition in the Latin America and Caribbean region among other topics.
President Dr Irfaan Ali will address the gathering while Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is slated to make a virtual presentation along with President Pro tempore of CELAC and President of Honduras, Her Excellency Xiomara Castro.

Guyana, positioned at the forefront, will steer discussions toward fostering regional coherence in global policies concerning agriculture and food.
Scheduled to take place for the first time in Guyana from March 18 to March 21, this much-anticipated agriculture forum will assemble key stakeholders to deliberate on crucial topics such as financing strategies to eradicate hunger, innovative technologies to mitigate post-harvest food loss, and adaptation measures to counteract the impacts of climate change on sustainable agriculture and food security.
The agenda will also encompass discussions on enhancing access to financing mechanisms, facilitating technology transfer and capacity building, and combatting food insecurity and malnutrition among children in the Region.

At the launch of the Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown earlier this year, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha underscored the significance of this event in shaping policies and directives for the Latin America and Caribbean Region, given the vulnerability of their agricultural food systems to multifaceted challenges such as the post-COVID-19 landscape, geopolitical tensions, and the relentless onslaught of climate change.
Despite the daunting nature of these challenges, Mustapha expressed unwavering determination among regional stakeholders to seek solutions and mitigate their impact on the populace, emphasising the necessity for collaborative efforts with capable institutions.
The Region is urged to collaborate with capable institutions to address various obstacles. The FAO is highlighted as a vital partner, offering significant technical support for agricultural projects in the Region to enhance food security.
This aligns with Caricom’s goal to reduce its food import bill by 25 percent by 2025.
Highlighting FAO’s pivotal role in the Region, its Assistant Director General and Regional Representative, Mario Lubetkin, stressed the imperative of a unified approach to address climate change, trade, and sustainable production, citing the integration of local, regional, and global perspectives as essential for effective problem-solving.
Each year, Agriculture Ministers and other dignitaries from member states of the region convene at the FAO regional conference to deliberate on matters pertinent to food and agriculture. Guyana’s hosting of this significant event underscores its leadership in regional agriculture and food security efforts.
With 33 countries slated to participate in the high-level session at the ACCC, and an expected attendance of more than 100 delegates, including officials from various organisations such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the conference promises to be a pivotal platform for shaping the future of agriculture and food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.