The meeting, held at the Itamaraty Palace from March 2 to 6, brought together ministers, experts, international organizations, and representatives of civil society to discuss priorities that will guide FAO’s work in the 2026-2027 biennium.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who participated in the ministerial meeting’s opening on March 4, called for prioritizing the fight against hunger and questioning the increase in global spending on armaments in the face of the food needs of millions of people.

Lula noted that a teleconference among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) would suffice to debate whether the solution to humanity’s problems lies in more war or more peace; in producing more weapons or in increasing people’s income so they can afford the food they need.

The head of State also advocated for strengthening international cooperation to guarantee food for the population and stressed that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace that can contribute to addressing global food security challenges.

Participants analyzed, in the initial technical sessions of the regional meeting, the impact of food price inflation on food security and nutrition, as well as public policies aimed at guaranteeing access to healthy diets in the region.

The regional conference will conclude this Friday with the approval of the meeting’s final report.

The next edition, in 2028, will be hosted by El Salvador.

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