Virtual, August 29, 2025
The Food Security and Food Safety discussion held in the preparatory phase for the X Summit of the Americas (Punta Cana, December 2025) brought together representatives of multilateral organizations, the private sector, and academia to address food security as an essential pillar of human security. This forum was organized by the OAS Summits of the Americas Secretariat, in support of the efforts of the Government of the Dominican Republic as the Chair of the Summits Process. It facilitated an intersectoral dialogue aimed at contributing to the technical and political discussions of the preparatory process for the X Summit. The dialogue explored the food security pillar addressed in the concept paper of the X Summit, presented by the Chair.
The dialogue addressed solutions based on science, innovation, agroecological practices, the inclusion of local knowledge, and the value of multistakeholder cooperation and financing – public, private and multilateral – as catalysts to transform our agrifood systems and strengthen their resilience, sustainability, trade and inclusion.
Among the main messages, it was noted that current agri-food systems face a double problem: they contribute to environmental degradation and agricultural sustainability through the intensive use of resources linked to the water-energy-food nexus; and, at the same time, they create negative impacts for public health due through the production and consumption of ultra-processed foods, as well as food safety problems—when food is unhealthy, adulterated or poses risks related to the transmission of zoonotic pathogens—which translates into diseases associated with malnutrition , obesity, and other chronic disorders.
Against that backdrop, participants highlighted the need to bring about a structural and systemic transformation of agri-food systems, geared toward sustainable models that guarantee health, well-being and universal access to food. That entails incorporating innovative and sustainable technologies, supporting family farming, creating decent jobs and promoting diverse and culturally appropriate diets with lower ultra-processed contents. This strategy seeks to strengthen the systems’ sustainability and resilience and, in turn, ensure food security and food safety, productive diversity and nutritional standards.
Concept note