PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (CMC) — Head of the United Nations Food and Agricultural agency (FAO) José Graziano da Silva says Latin America and the Caribbean could become the first developing region to completely eradicate hunger, with continued and strengthened implementation of a regional food security plan.

“This region has all the necessary conditions to achieve this, starting with the great political commitment that sustains the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Food Security, Nutrition and Hunger Eradication Plan,” the Director General said.

“The plan represents the crystallisation of governments’ political will to eradicate hunger before 2025 (five years ahead the target set in the Sustainable Development Goals).”

Approved by CELAC in 2015, the UN said the plan promotes comprehensive public policies to reduce poverty, improve rural conditions, adapt agriculture to climate change, end food waste and mitigate disaster risks.

A key element of the plan is that it not only focuses on addressing hunger but also obesity, which affects about 140 million people in the region, the UN said.

According to the FAO, the plan is also fully in line level global commitments, including the Paris Agreement on climate change and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The FAO head also underscored the threats posed by climate change, “which has the potential to reverse the gains made in the fight against hunger and extreme poverty in the region.

“Agriculture is the sector most affected by climate change and its main victims are small family farmers, men and women, many of whom struggle daily for their survival,” da Silva noted.

Together with CELAC, the UN said FAO is developing a plan of action for family agriculture and rural territorial development that promotes sustainable intensification of production, public procurement and food supply systems, rural services and greater opportunities for rural youth.

FAO has also supported the countries of the region to draw up a Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Management for Agriculture and Food Security, which promotes resilience and adaptation of farmers through sustainable farming techniques and resource management, according to the UN.