The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN held its 39th session of the Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean in Brasilia Brazil 2nd March to 6th March 2026.

The five days of meeting were held, two days for Senior Officers and three Days for Ministers, which addressed many issues around transforming AgriFood systems in LAC.e.g.

Food price inflation for food security and nutrition.

One Health in LAC: challenges and pathways forward to address animal, plant and human health issues.

The challenges of Soil and Water Management.

The sessions also reviewed the main results achieved by FAO in Latin American & the Caribbean, during the 2024-2025 period, in advancing the transformation towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.

Efforts were directed at the priorities for the biennium 2026-2027 and beyond under the FAO Reviewed Strategic Framework 2022-2031.

Further, CARICOM countries met with FAO Assistant Director (Regional), IICA Director General and The Vice Minister of Agriculture of Brazil and his senior programme officers.

In summary, the meetings resulted in opportunities to explore cooperation that will strengthen and influence FAO’s work programme in Antigua & Barbuda for the next two years, mainly in the areas of Soil and Water Management, Protected Agriculture and Organizational review of the Department of Agriculture to deliver Climate Smart Technologies & Approaches support.