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CAF calls for action to guarantee food security

September 20, 2022

The problem of food security requires combining economic growth, political commitment and public action to promote policies that help protect the most vulnerable populations.

CAF calls for action to guarantee food security

Transforming food systems and achieving food security in Latin America and the Caribbean will require coherence between public policies, investments in agri-food systems, environmental protection systems, food and nutrition practices, and social protection mechanisms. This is one of the panel's conclusions: "Food Security in Latin America and the Caribbean", held by CAF Development Bank of Latin America, as part of the event named "Many Voices, One Region: Latin America and the Caribbean working on the 2030 agenda for sustainabledevelopment."

"The food security issue requires urgency and partners working together. At CAF we fight hunger through concrete measures taken to guarantee food security. That’s why, along with organizations such as the World Food Program and the ICCA, we agree on different approaches to contribute to regional and national efforts to reduce the number of people suffering from moderate or severe food insecurity in Latin America and the Caribbean, which in 2020 affected almost 41% of the population. The problem of food security requires focusing on specific sectors, high-impact programs, available resources, strong institutions and commitment from the public and private sector," said Sergio Díaz–Granados, executive president of CAF.

QU Dongyu, Director-General of FAO, referred to the fertilizer crisis, especially in a region importing 85% of fertilizers, which could lead to a lack of food and therefore a food crisis, hitting low-income families hardest. "We must be more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable to achieve better production and an improved environment, protecting all beings on this planet. We need to provide immediate support to the most vulnerable to ensure that social care programs are implemented and that agricultural production is guaranteed, based on the food needed."

Meanwhile, David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Program, referred to the problems that the war between Russia and the Ukraine has caused for food security and nutrition. "We must ring bells and wake up the world, so that world leaders understand that the war’s consequences will not only be confined to one region, but at the global level. And while the direct effects of food insecurity occur on food and health, we shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that lack of food can have an effect on social stability in countries and be a cause of violence and political instability".

Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, also mentioned that Latin America and the Caribbean is one of the most important regions in terms of food security, accounting for 13% of global food production. "We are facing a global crisis that is putting the eyes of the world on Latin America, since it is a food surplus region. But that requires working on important issues such as inter-regional trade (that is barely at 14%) , investing in science and technology for more and better sustainable production processes, while creating public policies to benefit family farmers of whom there are 16.5 million in the region."

The event featured a keynote speech by Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, who called for political will so that the region can meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. For this to happen it will be necessary to invest in rural and urban areas, as well social protection, so that the poor have access to food and can improve their livelihoods.

A panel discussion was also held with the participation of María Inés Castillo, Panama’s Minister of Development and Inclusion; David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Program; Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA; and Marisol Argueta de Barillas, Senior Director for Latin America and member of the World Economic Forum Executive Committee, as moderator.

The panelists addressed the importance of food security and nutrition in the region’s countries and pointed out the actions that must be taken to improve it while also promoting optimal nutrition. Among the latter, the importance of setting long-term policies at the regional level that bring about foreign trade and innovation was especially highlighted. The involvement of the private sector was additionally highlighted as regards solutions for maintaining better production and an improved food system.

At the close of the event, Christian Asinelli, CAF's Corporate Vice President of Strategic Programming, highlighted CAF's priority of providing member countries with the technical and financial tools to address problems that have a long-term effect on development, such as food security. "In total, CAF financed $1.1 billion for food security through projects aimed at such sectors as drinking water, education, nutrition and mitigation, while developing a social protection agenda that has the food security of the most vulnerable as a central theme."

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