Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to food sovereignty and security at FAO

Published at: 13/09/2024 03:35 PM

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, represented by a delegation led by the ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Marilyn Di Luca Santaella, participates in the 76th Committee on Commodity Problems (CPPB) of this multilateral agency, held in Rome, Italy, from September 11 to 13 .

During the session dedicated to the State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO 2024), the Venezuelan representation highlighted the importance of food trade in promoting human well-being, nutrition, the sustainability of natural resources and social stability.

However, he stressed that for this impact to be positive, it is essential that international trade be framed in a multilateral system based on clear, equitable and fair rules, free from illegitimate trade restrictions, such as the Unilateral Coercive Measures that currently affect Venezuela.

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is grateful for the presentation of the document on SOCO 2024 and we recognize the links between food trade and nutrition. However, we must denounce that unilateral and arbitrary measures have distorted multilateral trade, imposing high costs on affected countries, forcing them to pay exorbitant prices for food and making it difficult to purchase,” said the Venezuelan delegation in its speech.

In turn, Venezuela called on FAO and the international community to recognize that food trade should not be used as a weapon of war, highlighting the positive experiences of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America-Peoples' Trade Agreement (ALBA-TCP) in the supportive and complementary exchange of food.

The Venezuelan delegation also emphasized concern about the impact of the transnational food industry on consumer habits, pointing out that marketing and misleading advertising promote products that contribute to the main causes of morbidity and mortality at the global level. In response, Venezuela has implemented policies that strengthen trade and domestic food production, through science, innovation and peasant scientific alliance, combining ancient and scientific knowledge.

“Venezuela promotes sustainable production through the development of bioinputs and the consolidation of local production and distribution circuits, prioritizing healthy and sovereign foods,” added the national representative.

Finally, the Bolivarian delegation urged FAO and member countries to continue to integrate nutritional goals into their agricultural and trade policies, in order to promote healthier, more sustainable and culturally appropriate food consumption patterns.

With this participation, Venezuela reaffirms its commitment to international cooperation and the search for just and equitable solutions that guarantee the right to food of all peoples, despite the challenges imposed by unilateral coercive measures.

VENEZUELAN MISSION TO FAO