BRASILIA - Ministers from across Latin America and the Caribbean met on March 5, 2026, in Brazil's capital to define new priorities for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for the next two years, focusing on reducing hunger, strengthening agrifood systems, and improving resilience in a region critical to the global food supply. The decisions matter not only for regional food security but also for global agricultural markets and supply chains.

The meeting marked the 39th Regional Conference of the FAO, bringing together government leaders, policymakers and agricultural officials to discuss strategies aimed at combating hunger, poverty and declining agricultural productivity.

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The region has made notable progress in reducing food insecurity, with more than 6 million fewer people experiencing hunger in 2024 compared with 2020, according to FAO data. However, officials warned that the progress remains uneven across countries and that the affordability of healthy diets continues to challenge millions of households.

FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted the region's agricultural capacity and policy innovations as key drivers behind the improvements.

"This region has the tools, the talent, and the tenacity to transform challenges into opportunities," Qu said during the opening session. He emphasized that coordinated policies, institutional collaboration and targeted social programs have been critical to improving food access.

Brazil hosted the conference, and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used the opportunity to reaffirm his administration's commitment to eradicating hunger. He framed food security as a political and moral responsibility.

"Everyone has the right to breakfast, lunch and dinner every day," Lula said, arguing that food insecurity is often the result of insufficient political commitment rather than unavoidable circumstances.

Several countries in the region have already reached significant milestones. Brazil, Costa Rica, Guyana and Uruguay report undernourishment rates below 2.5% of the population, according to FAO's Hunger Map. Meanwhile, Chile, the Dominican Republic and Mexico are on track to achieve the United Nations' Zero Hunger goal by 2030.

Despite these gains, regional agricultural systems face growing pressures. Food price volatility, limited fiscal capacity, climate shocks and geopolitical tensions are increasing uncertainty for farmers, rural communities and agricultural markets.

For agricultural producers and policymakers, climate variability is becoming a major economic risk, particularly as droughts intensify across key farming regions. These weather extremes can sharply affect crop yields, livestock production and farm income.

Conference discussions focused on policy tools that can help stabilize rural economies, including social protection programs, investments in agricultural technology, and stronger local food supply chains.

A ministerial roundtable also addressed slowing gains in agricultural productivity, a trend that could threaten long-term food supply and export competitiveness in the region. Latin America remains a major net exporter of food commodities, making the efficiency and sustainability of its agricultural systems critical for global markets.

Another key topic was the transformation of agrifood systems to boost value-added production, as policymakers seek to counter industrial slowdowns affecting rural economies and agricultural supply chains.

Sustainable agriculture also featured prominently on the agenda. Ministers discussed policies for climate-resilient farming, improved soil and water management, and stronger agricultural research and development programs.

FAO leaders stressed that the region's agrifood systems support more than 100 million livelihoods, underscoring the importance of protecting rural incomes and strengthening agricultural resilience.

Qu also highlighted the role of science and technology in improving productivity and market efficiency. Investments in innovation, precision agriculture and farmer support programs during crises can accelerate recovery and reduce vulnerability, he said.

Another initiative gaining attention at the conference is FAO's Hand-in-Hand Initiative, which has already structured nearly $3 billion in agricultural investment projects aimed at strengthening rural development and improving food system resilience across the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean remain one of the world's most important agricultural regions, not only because of their export capacity but also due to their environmental significance. The region includes vast biodiversity and critical ecosystems such as the Amazon, making sustainable agricultural policies essential both for food production and global climate stability.

Ultimately, the conference aims to define the FAO's strategic priorities for the coming years, aligning them with national agricultural policies and development strategies across the region.

As Qu told ministers during the opening session: "We are not here to discuss problems. We are here to accelerate solutions."