The thirty-seventh session of the regional conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), for Latin America and the Caribbean, was inaugurated in Quito on March 28, 2022. the Increase in prices for agricultural inputs was the topic suggested by Ecuador.
Ecuadorian Minister of Agriculture Pedro Álava has been chosen to chair this session. Today the first day takes place virtually and in person in a hotel in the capital. The sessions will last until Friday April 1st.
Food and agricultural supplies
Álava considering the armed conflict between Russia and Ukrainesuggested that during the sessions they would “this in connection with the increase in the prices of food and agricultural inputs“.
The delegations of Cuba, Brazil, Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines They supported Ecuador’s proposal.
The representative of St. Vincent and the Grenadines He pointed out that delegations from FAO member countries cannot leave Quito “without having given serious consideration to this issue on our agenda”.
He said that the A hit The price increase is not only due to the armed conflict, but also to the health pandemic.
topic considerations
The delegate from Guiana believed that this was the case urgently Because there are several factors that “exacerbate the complicated situation of the food supply worldwide”. He added that the Caribbean countries They are already looking for proposals to lower food prices.
Julio Berdegué, Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative of FAO, mentioned that the priorities on the agenda of this conference are: sustainable agri-food systems that provide healthy nutrition; prosperous and inclusive rural societies; and sustainable and resilient agriculture.
Berdegué pointed out that in the period 2020-2021 the FAO mobilized US$426.5 million for the regionan amount 78% higher than in the previous biennium.