The Dominican Republic’s capital of Santo Domingo is gearing up to welcome hundreds of government representatives and food security specialists from across Latin America and the Caribbean next month, as it takes on the role of host for the 11th annual gathering of the Network of Public Food Supply and Marketing Systems (Red SPAA). The three-day event, scheduled to run from August 11 to 13, marks a key collaborative moment for regional stakeholders working to address persistent food security challenges across the hemisphere.
This landmark conference is the product of a joint organizational effort between four major entities: the Dominican Republic’s Presidency, the country’s national Price Stabilization Institute (known locally as Inespre), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the Red SPAA network itself. Unlike many routine regional gatherings, the summit is designed as an interactive working platform, where attending nations can share tested policy approaches, successful operational models, and actionable strategies designed to reinforce public food distribution infrastructure and shore up collective food security outcomes across the region.
Inespre’s top leader, Executive Director David Herrera Díaz, has confirmed that delegations from 14 regional nations have signaled their intention to participate in the event. The attending countries include major regional economies such as Brazil and Mexico, alongside Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, bringing a diverse range of national contexts and food system models to the discussion table.
The summit will kick off with an official opening ceremony on the morning of August 11, which will feature head-of-state level participation from Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader. The opening event will also be attended by senior Dominican government authorities, high-ranking international organization officials, and lead delegates from all participating Red SPAA member countries, setting a collaborative tone for the three days of working sessions to follow.