Partnerships
and Regions

“To transform food systems in our region, we need to value our unparalleled biodiversity, our rich local resources, and our traditional food system practices, and their contributions to food and nutrition security.”

Joaquin Lozano

Regional Director, Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), climate change risks are exacerbated by widespread forest and pasture degradation, threatening the region’s rich agrobiodiversity and the livelihoods of millions. The region is already seeing shorter growing seasons, higher peak temperatures and flash floods, causing damage to food systems.

The CGIAR Regional Office for LAC, established in 2022, aims to act on these threats by strengthening partnerships at the country and regional levels, including with multilateral bodies such as the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the World Bank.

Milestones have included the signing of a letter of intent with FAO-LAC to advance science and innovation in agrifood systems in the region, and joint work with IICA and the World Bank to create a space for regional dialogue to discuss the role of science and innovation in strengthening agrifood systems in LAC.

The Regional Office has ensured a fluid dialogue with LAC governments through a network of country conveners. CGIAR’s visibility in the region was promoted through 4 workshops presenting the portfolio of 17 CGIAR Initiatives working in the region, including the Regional Integrated Initiative, AgriLAC Resiliente.

The Initiative aims to enhance the resilience of agrifood systems in LAC, following the updated CGIAR strategy of leveraging expertise and networks of national and regional stakeholders, in close discussion with the Regional Director.