Latin America is facing great challenges, with extreme poverty and hunger being some of the most alarming. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), nearly 60 million people suffer from hunger in the region^[1], so it is a continuing opportunity for organizations to collaborate and coordinate approaches and resources to advance food and nutrition security, economic growth, and sustainable development of each country, to reduce gaps amid a dynamic of population and climate change.

The U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), U.S. Wheat Association (USW), U.S. Grains Council (USGC), U.S. Rice Federation (USA Rice) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on contributing to the nutrition and food security of the region by promoting U.S. agricultural and food exports across Latin America. 

Under this agreement, these four leading U.S. agricultural and food trade associations will undertake joint initiatives in areas of mutual benefit, working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Market Development and Market Access Program by coordinating and/or combining resources.  Furthermore, this agreement is expected to make a positive impact in the region amid the latest global economic events such as interruptions to supply chains, the negative impact of Covid-19, and a changing climate.  

"We live in a global village. Collaboration and coordination can be instrumental to benefit Latin American families, our food company customers, and countries, as well as the U.S. food and agriculture industry," said Carlos Salinas, USSEC Regional Director for the Americas. "Together and equipped with sustainable, high quality and reliable food and agricultural products, we will implement specific, targeted and coordinated marketing initiatives to advance food and nutrition security, climate-forward solutions, and progress for people and communities.”

^[1] FAO, PAHO, WFP and UNICEF. 2021. Latin America and the Caribbean – Regional Overview of Food Security and Nutrition 2021: Statistics and trends. Santiago, FAO.