Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Pearnel Charles Jr, on Tuesday, departed the island to participate in the highly anticipated 37th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organization Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean. The event is being held in Quito, Ecuador from 28 March -1 April 2022.
The agenda will focus on discussions on the issues facing Latin America and the Caribbean and how to overcome the most complex humanitarian, economic and social crisis in recent decades, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of particular importance will be the discussions around food security and the agriculture sector, the development of solutions to move beyond issues faced by the region, which include increases in food prices, rising levels of hunger and malnutrition, the increase in food and fertilizer prices due to the invasion of Russia in Ukraine, the impact of climate change and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, among others.
The Minister will participate in several discussions with other regional leaders to find joint solutions to the challenges that affect the region today, including farming and the layers of the value chain which include tens of millions of people, businesses and organizations that make up the region's agri-food systems.
He will also participate in discussions around the transformation of agri-food systems in the region to achieve more sustainable, resilient agriculture and agri-food systems adapted to climate change to see better production, improved nutrition, a better environment and improved livelihoods for all.
The regional conference is held every two years and brings together the governments of the 33 Member States of the FAO in Latin America and the Caribbean to establish the regional priorities of the Organization for the next biennium.
Minister Charles Jr will be joined by other ministers from all the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean as well as technocrats working in the agriculture sector.
Minister Charles Jr is slated to return on April 2, 2022.
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