FAO Regional Summit Opens in Brasília as Brazil Moves to Aid Cuba and Haiti

Overview

• The opening at the Palácio do Itamaraty drew President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and FAO Director-General QU Dongyu, alongside ministers Carlos Fávaro and Paulo Teixeira, the conference co-president.
• Brazil announced plans to assist Cuba and Haiti through the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, combining support for purchasing agricultural inputs with direct food shipments.
• FAO officials flagged a worsening food shortage in Cuba, with participants discussing cooperative measures to secure essential items for the population.
• Brazil formally endorsed adding agrarian reform to regional anti-hunger strategies, backing a proposal initially presented by Colombia.
• Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira opened the session calling for effective multilateralism and urging robust commitments to ensure no one goes hungry.