Integration mechanisms discuss proposals on food security in Latin America and the Caribbean

With the objective of promoting a space for dialogue, best practices, and exchange of experiences on food security and sustainable energy, the regional integration Secretariats started this Thursday the meeting “Proposals for joint regional action: food security and energy,” organized by the Latin American and Caribbean Economic System (SELA) and the Central American Integration System (SICA). 

Regional integration in Latin America and the Caribbean plays an important role in addressing solutions to common challenges, which is why the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC); the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); the Andean Community (CAN); the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI); the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of our America - Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP); and the Presidency Pro Tempore of the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR) coordinate efforts to respond to the needs of the Member States. 

In this regard, the meeting was convened with the objective of identifying and analysing the different models and methodologies to measure the vulnerability of food systems in the region, in addition to generating spaces for the exchange of best practices for the production and management of agricultural inputs. 

SELA highlighted the work it is conducting to diagnose the vulnerability of food systems in the region, which facilitates their measurement in order to contribute more effectively to the definition of public policies in this area. "From SELA, we want to provide elements to address the issue of food security and its production systems in a comprehensive manner. Estimating the vulnerability of agrifood systems is a proposal that aims to provide a measurement to contribute to decision-making and subsequently to the design of public policies to strengthen agrifood systems in Latin America and the Caribbean,” the Permanent Secretary of SELA, Ambassador Clarems Endara, said. 

The Secretary General of SICA, Werner Vargas, noted that Central America has made progress in a coordinating role to provide statistical data to facilitate decision making and strengthen regional observatories to determine early warnings on food vulnerability. In this regard, he proposed the creation of a working group to follow up on the proposals made during Thursday's meeting. 

Participants in the meeting: "Proposals for joint regional action: food security and energy" included Mario Lubetkin, Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); Jorge Pedraza, Secretary General of the Andean Community (CAN); Rodolfo Sabonge, Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS); and Christian Leroux, representative of the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI). 

This Friday will be held the meeting “Regional energy integration. Challenges for convergence and cooperation in energy matters,” in which the regional Secretariats will address points of common interest among the integration schemes of Latin America and the Caribbean for cooperation and exchange of best practices in the energy sector.