Deputy general director and representative in Latin America of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, Mario Lubetkin, warned about food insecurity at the 63rd Meeting of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) that begins in Panama plenary sessions.

Panama City.- The FAO representative said that in the region some 288 million people have difficulty feeding themselves adequately. He also indicated that 56.6 million people in the region, at the end of 2021, were suffering from hunger, this number represents a 30% increase iconcerning2019.

Lubetkin, who participated in one of the panels on food security, insisted on the need to prioritize agri-food systems aiming at getting better quality seeds, yields, and productivity per hectare.

The IDB’s annual Assembly will conclude tomorrow with the participation of delegates from the 48 member nations, including ministers of economy and finance, central bank directors, and representatives of private companies.

At this forum, the IDB called the day before to act in a coordinated manner to protect the ecosystems of the Amazon. With Argentina’s Minister of Economy, Sergio Massa, financing programs were signed to strengthen agricultural and livestock health programs and the management of maritime resources and urban solid wastes.

Climate change and social investments for a more effective fight against poverty and inequality were among the topics of the debates, of which, the conclusions will be included in a final declaration this Sunday. (PL)