The 39th FAO Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean will take place in Brasilia from 2 to 6 March 2026, in a hybrid format, hosted by the Brazilian government. The meeting brings together member states from the region, United Nations agencies, the private sector, academia, civil society and Parliamentary Fronts Against Hunger, with sessions in Spanish, French and English.
The FAO Regional Conference brings together government delegations and partners to discuss priorities, align commitments and forward decisions that guide the organisation’s actions in the region. Known by the acronym LARC, the event is a space for intergovernmental coordination with a direct impact on food and nutrition security policies.
During the programme, the World Food Programme (WFP) Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil participated in the mini-event ‘The role of the health sector and the potential of South-South Cooperation in tackling malnutrition and promoting healthy food systems’ on 2 March.
The debate focused on the multiple determinants of malnutrition and on experiences within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS), as well as presenting the Nutrir o Futuro project. Developed by the Centre of Excellence in partnership with the Ministries of Health of Brazil, Peru and Colombia and the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC), Nutrir o Futuro is a platform for exchange and regional solutions to tackle all forms of malnutrition in an integrated manner.
From left to right: Riffat Iqbal (ABC), Kelly Alves (Ministry of Health) and Rosane Silva (Centre of Excellence) – WFP/Ana Mascarenhas
The speakers were Kelly Alves, representing the Brazilian Ministry of Health; Rosane Silva, technical consultant in the area of nutrition at the Centre of Excellence; and Riffat Iqbal, from the ABC.
When presenting Nurture the Future, Rosane Silva stated that South-South Cooperation accelerates results by combining evidence, policies and practice in the territories. ‘When health, education and social protection go hand in hand, we gain scale. Nurture the Future connects ministries and technical teams to transform experiences into public policies that reach people,’ she said.
The conference was also attended by the President of the Republic of Brazil on the 4th, with the participation of other authorities. Daniel Balaban, director of the Centre of Excellence, attended the event and stressed that the integration of health policies and food systems is fundamental for the proper development of communities.
“The region has technical capacity and instruments for public procurement, regulation and social innovation. Our role is to coordinate, share what works and support countries so that nutrition results are reflected in children’s health, their school performance and benefits for the entire community,” he said.