Heifer International Urges Action on Food Security Policy After CELAC 2025 Summit

In light of the recent CELAC 2025 Summit held in Honduras, Heifer International has reiterated its commitment to transforming food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean. This summit provided a platform for essential discussions centered around food security, nutrition, and the eradication of hunger and poverty — issues that are at the heart of Heifer's mission.

For over 80 years, Heifer International has partnered with rural families across the globe to cultivate sustainable, equitable, and resilient livelihoods. The organization emphasizes that smallholder farmers are critical to creating sustainable food systems in the region. These farmers, along with rural communities, Indigenous peoples, women, and youth, are vital guardians of the land and essential to guaranteeing access to sufficient, nutritious, and safe food for current and future generations.

Oscar Castañeda, Senior Vice President of Heifer International for the Americas, stated, "Despite making progress, Latin America urgently needs public policies that recognize and support the pivotal role of food producers in safeguarding our natural resources. Access to nutritious and safe food is a fundamental human right and also the foundation for inclusive, sustainable development in harmony with biodiversity and ecosystems."

Heifer International is calling on regional leaders to turn commitments made at the summit in Tegucigalpa into concrete actions, backed by appropriate budgets and robust partnerships with rural communities. Prioritizing people—especially family farmers—requires promoting agroecology, ensuring inclusive access to fair markets, and preserving traditional knowledge and cultural heritage. Heifer’s experience demonstrates that hunger and poverty can be mitigated when communities are equipped with the tools, leadership opportunities, and collective power necessary to thrive. Building resilient, equitable, and locally-led food systems is crucial for the region’s future.

In line with this vision, Heifer International is excited to announce the upcoming Sustainable Food Systems Summit, focusing on the voices of farmers. This summit is scheduled to take place in Honduras from May 12 to 16, 2025. It will serve as a venue where local food producers will lead dialogue, learning, and advocacy, uniting community leaders, technical teams, institutional partners, and universities to foster grassroots transformation throughout the region.

Founded in 1944, Heifer International has worked with over 52 million people worldwide to sustainably end hunger and poverty while caring for the planet. Today, the organization operates in 19 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas, including the United States, supporting farmers and food producers in strengthening local economies and establishing secure livelihoods that provide a dignified income. To learn more about Heifer International and its initiatives, visit www.heifer.org.

Through community engagement and sustainable practices, Heifer International aims to pave the way for a future where food security is not just a dream but an attainable reality for everyone. As discussions initiated at the CELAC 2025 Summit continue, it is imperative that the commitment to food security and nutrition translates into actionable policies that uplift the voices of those who feed the region.