CELAC Food Plan to be cemented at St Vincent Summit

A CELAC Food Plan which received overwhelming support from Ministers of Agriculture at a meeting in mid-January is expected to be a significant issue for action at the March meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to take place in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

A statement following the January meeting of Ministers said the Community was preparing to move towards the implementation phase of the CELAC Plan for Food and Nutrition Security and Hunger Eradication 2030 after the conclusion of the successful High-level meeting of Agriculture Ministers at the Regional Office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Chile on January 16, 2024.

The document was due for submission to Dr Ralph Gonsavles, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines as Pro Tempore President of CELAC for review and guidance through the established CELAC processes.

After months of discussions among key stakeholders including: policy makers, experts, technical governing bodies, international agencies, academics, civil society and others, a working plan is now ready for each member state that will serve as a guide for a unified approach which takes into consideration the varying socio-economic dynamics of the region.

The validation process was a collective effort that demonstrated the support and dedication of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Latin American Integration Association (ALADI), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), The CARICOM Private Sector Organization (CPSO) and the Inter-American Institute for Coorporation on Agriculture (IICA).

Deputy Director General of the FAO and Regional Representative for LAC Mario Lubetkin, and Dr. Douglas Slater, CELAC PTP Co-ordinator played critical roles in supporting the convening of the meeting.

The plan is being praised by policy makers and technical experts for its cohesiveness, while addressing the complexities and peculiarities of the region; highlighting concerns such as gender and human right issues, legal and institutional structures, and public policies. The plan is also being recognised for its added components of financing, monitoring and implementation in addressing its sustainability towards production, accessibility and consumption; against the backdrop of climate change and mitigation efforts.

The CELAC Summit [to be held at the Sandal’s St Vincent Resorts] is expected to further cement the collaboration among member states in attaining greater food security while fostering deeper regional integration, and leveraging expertise from among member states, utilising new innovations and technologies to facilitate increased production and minimised environmental impacts (FAO).