The Role of Science, Technology and Innovation for Transforming Food Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

Abstract

Food systems (FS) incorporate nutrition, health, resource use, biodiversity, transformation, jobs and livelihoods, all of which ideally should be covered under the concept of the SDGs. This chapter outlines the crucial role of the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region as the world’s largest net exporter of agricultural products and recognizes the circular economy and the bioeconomy as strategic areas for FS transformation to improve productivity and the sustainable use of biological resources and to reduce waste. Significant developments have been achieved in some countries in biotechnology agricultural applications, conservation and regenerative agriculture and sustainable livestock production systems, as well as young entrepreneurships developing start-ups with impact in the regional bioeconomy. Considering this dichotomy should be an essential component of any strategy for confronting the climate change crisis and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which are threatening food supply, nutrition, health and sustainability. The integration of science, technology and innovation (STI) developments and investment opportunities with national and regional policymaking is essential, as well as communicating its potential to the public. Specific actions for LAC include: (a) using the great agrobiodiversity of LAC to diversify the FS, thereby increasing nutritional content and climate change resilience and new bioproducts; (b) enabling and promoting the use of digital technologies in the food value chain: and (c) using beneficial soil microorganisms and the microbiome for sustainable increases in productivity.