SVG among Hemispheric countries to benefit from FAO food supply and marketing project

STVINCENT ANDTHE GRENADINES (SVG) is among countries in the Latin American/Caribbean group that are part of a project to strengthen food supply and marketing policies in countries of the group.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/ MRE), and the National Food Supply Company (CONAB) of Brazil signed the project earlier this month, a release from the FAO states.

According to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI 2025) report, food price inflation has hindered the recovery of food security and nutrition after the Covid-19 pandemic. Since 2020, global food price inflation has consistently outpaced overall inflation, with low-income countries being particularly affected by rising food costs.

This new trilateral South–South cooperation initiative was signed on August, 13, 2025 in Cartagena, Colombia, during the 10th Meeting of the Public Food Supply and Marketing Systems Network (SPAA Network).The signing ceremony was attended by Edegar Pretto, President of CONAB; Andréia Rigueira, Chief of Staff of the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ABC/ MRE); Agustín Zimmermann, FAO Representative in Colombia; and Martha Viviana Carvajalino Villegas, Colombia’s Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

CONAB President, Edegar Pretto, highlighted that, for the first time in the SPAA Network’s history, the institution is contributing $US 500,000 to directly strengthen the Network’s capacity through technical cooperation with FAO.

With a duration of 20 months, the project will be implemented at both the national and regional levels to strengthen public food supply and marketing policies and programmes in the SPAA Network’s member countries. Currently, the Network comprises 18 countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.The inclusion of a new member- Uruguay-was also announced.

According to João Intini, FAO Food Systems and Policy Officer, public food supply and marketing systems are key players in addressing the impacts of staple food price crises that affect populations. They also help mitigate the effects of climate change on agricultural production, especially for family farmers, by implementing inclusive public policies that strengthen the functioning of agri-food systems.

For the implementation of this project, ABC/MRE will be responsible for coordinating international technical cooperation in Brazil, while CONAB will contribute its experience and financial, technical, and human resources to oversee and carry out project activities.

FAO, in turn, will facilitate cooperation processes by providing technical, operational, and administrative support. Partner countries will actively participate in the implementation and development of strategic actions throughout the project.