A high-level mission from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to Haiti and the Dominican Republic highlighted the critical need for coordinated action to address food security across the Caribbean. The mission emphasized that tackling food insecurity requires both emergency agricultural interventions to meet immediate needs and long-term systems for preparedness and protection of regional food supply chains.

Led by FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol, the mission advanced a dual approach: reinforcing agriculture as a frontline humanitarian response in Haiti, while focusing on biosecurity, disaster preparedness, and market stability in the Dominican Republic. This strategy reflects the interconnected nature of regional food security challenges.

In Haiti, where over 5.7 million people face high levels of acute food insecurity, rural communities continue to depend on agriculture for survival. FAO’s Emergency Food Production approach enables vulnerable families to grow food within 90 days even under crisis conditions. In 2025, FAO supported more than 140,000 people by distributing over 210 tonnes of seeds to 76,000 farmers, producing more than 7,500 tonnes of food across 4,300 hectares.

In the Dominican Republic, efforts concentrated on protecting agrifood systems from shocks such as transboundary animal diseases, climate hazards, and supply chain disruptions, while supporting regional trade integration. FAO’s work over the past two years has included certifying 25 pig farms, reducing viral circulation, and improving biosecurity compliance from 35 percent to nearly 80 percent, strengthening both food safety and export potential.

Deputy Director-General Bechdol emphasized the vital role of agriculture in both countries, noting that it is a lifeline sustaining households in Haiti and a foundation for stability and trade in the Dominican Republic. She highlighted that strategic, locally tailored investment in agriculture enhances resilience and ensures food security, demonstrating the importance of sustained regional action.

To expand these initiatives, FAO is seeking $108 million to support 860,000 people in Haiti through emergency food production and livelihood protection. In the Dominican Republic, FAO aims to mobilize additional resources to extend biosecurity coverage, strengthen livestock systems, and safeguard national and regional food supply chains.

The mission reflects FAO’s integrated regional approach, combining immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term measures to prevent crises and secure food availability, leveraging the capabilities of its country offices to deliver results that protect both communities and the broader agrifood system.

Source - https://news.fundsforngos.org