60 million people suffer from food insecurity in Ibero-America

The 11th Ibero-American Conference of Ministers of Agriculture concluded on Thursday in Santo Domingo with a commitment to make progress in resolving the "pressing needs" of the 60 million people suffering from food insecurity in the region.

A resolution was also adopted in support of food security and sustainable development in Haiti, urging the international community and other political actors to work to combat the "grave" humanitarian situation in the country.

The appeal calls on financial institutions and organisations to "open channels for (Haiti's) timely access to financial resources, technology transfer and South-South and South-North cooperation".

The closing document of the meeting also called on the international community, especially Ibero-America, to encourage the Haitian government to establish the "necessary social and economic stability" as a basis for achieving food security and poverty reduction.

Other points agreed included increasing productive capacity and diversity, access to productive assets, access to technological developments including digitalisation and education as a basis for overcoming exclusion.

In addition, they called for a systemic transformation to address global challenges such as climate change, social inequality and gender gaps by significantly increasing investment in science, technology and innovation.

The conference is part of the preparatory meetings for the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government that will take place in the Dominican Republic on 24-25 March 2023 under the theme 'Together for a fair and sustainable Ibero-America'.