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Inadequate political intervention and insufficient financing remain major obstacles to combating hunger and improving food security in the Caribbean and Latin America, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha said on Thursday.
Speaking at the opening of the 39th Session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) Regional Conference, Mustapha said discussions during the previous conference revealed gaps in key interventions despite persistent hunger in the region and the high cost of healthy diets for small island and developing states.
“A central conclusion was that financing for transforming our agri-food system remains fragmented and insufficient,” Mustapha said.
He added that the conference highlighted the need to mobilise innovation and scale up financing to eliminate hunger, guarantee the right to adequate food and support local governments in building inclusive and resilient food systems.
Mustapha, who chaired the FAO’s 38th session, said increasing risks facing the region have also underscored the need to strengthen resilience by transforming agri-food systems through science, innovation, early warning systems and deeper regional cooperation.
Member states endorsed four regional priorities under the FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022–2031, including technical and policy support, modernising the country office network, promoting economic progress and healthy diets, and creating employment while ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.
Mustapha urged delegates at the 39th conference to assess the progress made since the previous meeting and push forward efforts to achieve the region’s food security goals.
He warned that repeated discussions without tangible progress would undermine the region’s food security agenda.
