On June 30, July 1 and 2, the city of Valdivia hosted the eighteenth regional meeting of the Technology Transfer Group (GTT). The event brought together a historic attendance of farmers who are members of GTT, who gathered to discuss and analyze food security as a fundamental strategy for agricultural development in the region.
The central theme of the meeting was the relevance of food security, which is based on the availability and access to food by the population, and how this directly affects the development of the agricultural sector in the country. The challenges associated with this topic were addressed by prominent speakers, who focused on the importance of improving access to food through effective social policies, adequate investments and the implementation of good practices.
The meeting highlighted the need to increase national production of those products in which the country is dependent on exports, without this negatively affecting the export vocation of the territory. To achieve this, emphasis was placed on the importance of promoting dialogue and cooperation between the public and private sectors, considering that collaboration is essential to face current and future challenges related to food security.
One of the main points to highlight was the vulnerability of the country's agri-food system, which is closely linked to climatic conditions. According to experts, around 50% of agricultural production directly depends on rainfall, highlighting the need to implement resilience policies to cope with climate variability.
This was explained by Verónica Fernández, president of the GTT Foundation, who argued that: “Improving food security requires investment, growth and good practices in social policies. It is possible to increase the national production of products in which we are dependent on exports, without compromising our export vocation; dialogue and public/private cooperation are a unique condition to address current and future challenges, even more so when we have a very vulnerable agri-food system in our country, which depends on 50% of the rains.”
To achieve food security, emphasis was placed on the importance of having a closer distribution of food to the population, ensuring corporate transparency and sustainability throughout the production, distribution and consumption process. This would allow food to reach those who need it most more efficiently.
"Food must be close to the population, with greater corporate transparency and sustainability in production, distribution and consumption," emphasized the president of the union.
The regional GTT meeting in Valdivia has sent a clear message about the importance of food security as a key strategy for agricultural development and, consequently, for the well-being of the population. With a focus on cooperation, investment and good practices, it is hoped to move towards a safer and more sustainable future in terms of food for all inhabitants of the country.
