BRASILIA, BRAZIL – From March 2nd to 6th, 2026, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) convened its 39th Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), setting a strategic agenda for the future of the region’s food systems. The high-level gathering, which brought together senior government officials and agricultural ministers, focused on comprehensive strategies to overhaul agri-food systems to be more efficient, resilient, and sustainable.
The conference’s agenda was structured to address the most pressing challenges facing the region. A primary focus was mitigating food price inflation and its direct impact on food security and nutritional outcomes for vulnerable populations. Delegates engaged in critical discussions on the ‘One Health’ approach, exploring integrated pathways to tackle interconnected issues affecting animal, plant, and environmental health. The sustainable management of vital resources, particularly soil and water, was also a central topic, recognizing their foundational role in agricultural productivity.
A significant portion of the proceedings was dedicated to reviewing the FAO’s accomplishments in the LAC region during the 2024-2025 biennium, highlighting progress made in advancing the transformation toward sustainable agri-food systems. Building on this assessment, the conference directed efforts toward establishing clear priorities for the upcoming 2026-2027 biennium and beyond. These future initiatives will be guided by the FAO’s Reviewed Strategic Framework for 2022-2031, ensuring alignment with long-term global sustainability goals.
In a pivotal side event, representatives from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held a strategic meeting with key figures, including the FAO’s Assistant Director-General for the region, the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and Brazil’s Vice Minister of Agriculture alongside senior program officers. This collaboration underscored a reinforced commitment to multilateral cooperation in tackling shared agricultural and food security challenges across the hemisphere.