ABC supports an event CONAB on public food supply and marketing policies in Latin America and the Caribbean

ABC supports an event CONAB on public food supply and marketing policies in Latin America and the Caribbean

Senior representatives from Latin American and Caribbean countries met during the IX Meeting of the Network of Public Food Supply and Marketing Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean (SPAA Network), from August 21 to 23 in Brasilia, to exchange experiences that foster action strategies and projects between the public food supply and marketing institutions of the member countries.

The 9th meeting was organized by the National Food Supply Company of Brazil (CONAB), promoted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), with the support of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Family Farming (MDA) and the National Institute for Land Settlement and Agrarian Reform (INCRA) of Brazil, within the framework of the Brazil-FAO International Cooperation Program.

The event was opened by representatives of the Ministries of Agrarian Development and Family Farming; Social Development and Assistance, the Family and the Fight against Hunger; Cuba's Interior Trade Ministry; CONAB; INCRA; ABC; the SPAA Network; and the FAO in Brazil.

In his speech, Paulo Teixeira, Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming, highlighted the initiatives Brazil has taken to reduce the number of people suffering from hunger, emphasizing the country's efforts towards food sovereignty. He underlined the fundamental role played by public procurement programs for school meals, for the donation of food to the most vulnerable populations, and which guarantee market access and income for family farmers.

The Minister of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, Wellington Dias, highlighted the challenge facing the world: the need for countries to act in an integrated, planned way for food production, access and consumption.

The president of CONAB, Edegar Pretto, who hosted the event, highlighted the international cooperation actions developed by the institution with other countries and emphasized the support of FAO and ABC, stressing the importance of the meeting to cooperate, teach and learn together.

Ambassador Luiza Lopes, deputy director of ABC, also highlighted the work carried out by the network over the last 10 years, with intense and uninterrupted activities, even in an environment of insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout a three-day agenda of meetings and technical visits, the countries presented the initiatives they had developed in terms of food supply and marketing and, in their final declaration, committed themselves to technical cooperation for the implementation of public policies that contribute to achieving Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

SPAA Network

Peru and the Province of Buenos Aires have joined the SPAA Network, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024. The Network already includes Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.