In response to the outcomes of the recently concluded United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 38th Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LARC38), a task force is being formed to accelerate the implementation of its recommendations.
The newly established committee will be chaired by Guyana’s Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha. The special committee will focus on expediting the adoption of key proposals from the regional conference. Minister Mustapha, who also serves as the LARC’s chairman for the next two conferences, expressed the importance of swift action in addressing the region’s food and agriculture challenges.
The LARC38, which was held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal, brought together representatives from 33 countries to discuss pressing issues and prioritize actions for regional coherence in global policies related to food and agriculture.
Speaking at a media briefing following the conference, Minister Mustapha underscored the significance of the event’s outcomes in promoting sustainable agricultural growth and ensuring food security across Latin America and the Caribbean. He announced that the inaugural meeting of the task force is scheduled to take place in May in Chile, where the recommendations will be thoroughly examined.
Highlighting Guyana’s commitment to regional collaboration, Minister Mustapha reiterated the country’s dedication to translating the conference’s proposals into tangible actions.
Throughout the engagements, participants identified key areas for advancement, including efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, attract targeted investments through initiatives such as the Hand in Hand Initiative, and strengthen resilience, particularly in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) facing climate-related challenges.
For his part, FAO’s Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mario Lubetkin, highlighted the conference’s focus on achieving food security through sustainable production, ending hunger, managing natural resources, addressing climate change, reducing inequalities, and promoting resilience.
Lubetkin also underscored the integral link between the conference’s discussions and CARICOM’s food security agenda, emphasising the importance of regional cooperation in addressing shared challenges.
As LARC38 concludes, Guyana remains committed to leveraging the momentum generated by the conference to collaborate closely with regional partners and achieve common objectives in advancing food security and sustainable agriculture across Latin America and the Caribbean. (Information taken from DPI)
