NUTRITION

Healthy food. The 38th Ministerial Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) was held in Guyana at the end of March. At the closing session, the member states approved the report of the regional conference, which contains a repository of regional and global regulatory policies, and adopted the ministerial declaration endorsing the need to promote technical support from the organization to increase the resilience and sustainability of the region’s agrifood systems. The next regional conference will be held in Brazil in 2026.

In the repository of regional and global policies, the priority lines of action for the region for the next two years were defined. The regional leaders thus promoted the implementation of the Food Security Plan of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC in Spanish) as well as the adoption of policies such as food labeling, the publication of food guides and the promotion of consumer education on nutritious foods. 

With regard to policies to reduce food losses and waste, the countries stressed the importance of increasing data collection and analysis capabilities to identify those areas in the value chain where food is lost in order to implement integrated food loss prevention plans.

For its part, the ministerial declaration adopted by the member states prioritizes actions to eradicate hunger, poverty and structural inequalities in order to guarantee adequate food. It also recognizes the food vulnerabilities of the Caribbean island countries due to their dependence on food imports.

Next steps

During the 38th Ministerial Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which brought together various officials from the region, those present defined, in the repository of regional and global regulatory policies, the areas to be worked on in the area of food systems in Latin America. The recommendations contained therein will be used for the discussion of related regulatory proposals in national congresses or their possible application through the different mechanisms available to international organizations to influence the formulation of public policies, such as the Parliamentary Fronts against Hunger. This, in view of the next FAO Conference to be held in 2026 in Brazil.

Engagement opportunity for McDonald’s

McDonald’s will be able to participate in the process of creating bills or regulations in public consultation when the Executive and Legislative Branches present initiatives on the subject. The participation of the private sector will be conditioned to the public actors allowing the participation of other actors in the respective debates.