Food Security Challenges in Latin America and the Caribbean: Reflections from the LAC Connections Symposium

Latin America and the Caribbean is facing an increase in food insecurity, according to the LAC Connections Symposium, which took place during the first event of its kind in the region in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences. During this symposium, researchers from various parts of the world shared academic insights on a wide range of multidisciplinary topics, including energy, transportation, and pandemic recovery. 

It was emphasized that food security represents a significant challenge for the populations of Latin America and the Caribbean. Recent studies revealed that the region was experiencing around 40% food insecurity, 10% higher than the global average in terms of hunger, with a notable increase in its prevalence in 2021, affecting 56.5 million people. 

These academic discussions took place during the first day of the LAC Connections Symposium on Wednesday, February 28, as part of the VIII Global Chair of the University of the North, in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences. During the event, which extended until March 1st, participants debated advancements in a range of multidisciplinary topics, such as oceans under climate change, energy, transportation infrastructure, and pandemic repair and recovery. 

The symposium's program aimed to facilitate and encourage the scientific community of researchers who are beginning their careers in countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as in the United States and Canada. The goal was to enhance scientific exchange and dialogue among early or mid-career researchers in the Western Hemisphere and to foster collaboration in research. 

Matías Mastrangelo, Open Data Specialist at the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, highlighted that the food insecurity situation worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent economic crisis, especially disproportionately affecting women in the region, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the challenges facing the region in terms of food security. 

Additionally, Anne-Teresa Birthwright, PhD, a STeP fellow based at the IAI, gave the presentation "Risky Business: Modeling the Future of Coffee Production in Jamaica in a Changing Climate." During this session, the challenges and risks facing the Jamaican coffee industry due to climate change were discussed.  

In the meeting, the need to reconsider food production and consumption models to achieve true sustainability was highlighted. The importance of reducing food losses, which currently account for around 50% of production, and exploring harmonious coexistence between food production and biodiversity preservation were also pointed out. 

Alberto de Castro, Academic Vice Chancellor of Uninorte, emphasized the importance of identifying variables such as climate change, food security, energy, transportation infrastructure, pandemic repair and recovery, and community resilience to disasters to develop effective solutions. 

In this context, Dalal Najib, Senior Director of Capacity Building in Science and Engineering at the Division of Policy and Global Affairs of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, expressed gratitude to the university and the organizing committee for their work in organizing the symposium, highlighting the importance of supporting the research community and fostering connections to maintain scientific momentum in Latin America. The need to develop communication and stakeholder engagement capabilities, as well as to facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations and the exchange of ideas and knowledge, was emphasized. 

Learn more here: https://www.uninorte.edu.co/web/grupo-prensa/w/america-latina-y-el-caribe-enfrentan-aumento-en-la-inseguridad-alimentaria-simposio-lac-connections

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