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How the LAC region can lead the transition towards sustainable agrifood systems


Speakers from the T20 side event organized by Avanzar2030 and IPEA
Panel discussion during T20 side event

AVANZAR2030 co-organized a side-event as part of the T20 Summit which took place in Rio in the run-up to the G20 Summit. Entitled Advancing Sustainable Agri-food Systems for Climate Resilience, Food Security, and Global Collaboration, the side-event brought together experts from IPEA, IICA, EstratECO and the Brazilian Ministry of Finance for a discussion moderated by Hesat2030 Co-Chair, Valeria Piñeiro. 


The side-event sought to identify how knowledge and evidence from the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region can contribute to the ambitions of the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. The session began with a welcome from Fabio Véras Soares who called on research institutions to strengthen their collaboration towards a common goal of food security. By gathering the evidence and an understanding of what has worked well, programmes and policies from the region can be scaled up and shared with other countries. 


Gathering and upscaling such evidence is one of the goals of the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. Its representative, Thiago Lima, noted that the Alliance seeks to share experiences of what has worked well with other countries and mentioned successful initiatives such as the school feeding progams and access to credit for families and small businesses. He also highlighted that government procurement policies for school feeding programs can be used as a driver for positive change.


The LAC region has the potential to become a global leader in sustainable agriculture transformation. In her presentation, Valeria Piñeiro noted that it is currently the world’s largest net food-exporting region and provides important ecosystem services, housing 49% of the world’s forest carbon stock. 


The agrifood sector forms a growing part of national GDP and employs a significant part of the population. In Peru, for example, the sector contributes to 18% of the national GDP and employs 40% of the population. However, the region also faces challenges due to climate change, the difficulty for many to access and afford healthy diets and an agricultural productivity rate that has slowed in comparison to other regions.  


As a result, the LAC region needs to address the challenge of increasing food production while simultaneously reducing environmental impact.  


AVANZAR2030: a path towards transformation

AVANZAR2030, an initiative launched in response to the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, showcases how evidence-based strategies can promote sustainable solutions. Bringing together more than 20 institutions and 45 researchers, Avanzar2030 identifies innovations in three areas: 


  1. Policy: Many LAC countries have enacted policies targeting sustainability. The Policy team focuses on identifying the most effective policies that create a supportive environment for the implementation of sustainable - economically, socially and environmentally - practices.

  2. Technology: Technology can enhance productivity and reduce emissions in sectors like bovine farming where innovations can simultaneously increase productivity and improve livelihoods. The Technology team provides insights for promoting technology adoption at the farm level for the bovine sector.

  3. Institutions: Incentives and mechanisms can accelerate the adoption of climate-smart solutions in the agricultural sector. The Institutions team assesses which incentives can best attract investments in sustainable agriculture and how institutions can be more effective to attract resources and scaling up innovations.


AVANZAR2030 consists of three phases, with a first phase focused on region-wide analysis and a second phase offering country specific recommendations. Plans are underway for country analysis in Honduras,and  Colombia. In the third phase, AVANZAR2030 will bring its insight to the global level through its collaboration with Hesat2030 and potentially the G20 Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, thereby contributing to global sustainability efforts.


Presentation of initial results 

A comprehensive review of evidence by the Policy team led by Joaquin Arias indicates that financial incentives remain central to advancing productivity, access to financial services and incomes. However, they are less likely to impact climate adaptation and food access. Technology transfer incentives, while beneficial for innovation and productivity, also have limited reach in climate adaptation. Finally, labelling and certification programs are effective in increasing knowledge and acceptability among consumers.


In terms of barriers, policy is limited by overly bureaucratic administrative processes and complexity, whether of technology or policy. Conversely, factors that facilitate policy implementation include the availability of financial resources, a supportive policy environment, and political commitment. Most importantly, the evidence suggests the benefits of transitioning away from subsidies towards incentives that can achieve long-term positive outcomes such as soil health and biodiversity improvements. 


Preliminary results from the Institutions team, led by Sabine Papendieck, show that the incentives and mechanisms to scale climate action must be tailored to local contexts and offer a collaborative and multistakeholder approach. Economic mechanisms and market-based incentives can have positive outcomes such as climate mitigation, land use, market access, and market efficiency.


Financial resources, political leadership, and policy environment are the main facilitators while administrative processes and complexity are the most common obstacles. The review found that economic returns are essential as a mechanism while incentives are needed to scale up climate action.


Next steps

For LAC to fully leverage its role in global food security and environmental sustainability, collaboration will be key. As Marcelo Nonnenberg from IPEA noted, coordinated efforts across public, private, and multilateral organizations can enhance the reach and impact of interventions, particularly through mechanisms that pool resources and share knowledge. 


By aligning regional and international agendas—such as the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty, proposed by Brazil's G20 presidency—LAC can contribute not only to local food security but also to global efforts to combat hunger and climate change. The evidence and recommendations from AVANZAR2030 contributes to this endeavour.  


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