Emissions from land use in LAC.

58% of greenhouse gas emissions in Latin America and the Caribbean originate from land use, land-use change, and the forestry sector, highlighting the significant weight of these activities in the region’s climate dynamics and the urgent need to strengthen mitigation efforts (World Resources Institute, 2024).

World Resources Institute, 2024

Forests in Latin America and the Caribbean.

23% of the world’s forests and 60% of global biodiversity are located in Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the region’s strategic importance for ecosystem and biodiversity conservation. This significant share also reflects the critical role of LAC in providing essential ecosystem services and in supporting global efforts to address environmental degradation and climate change (World Resources Institute, 2024)

World Resources Institute, 2024

Agricultural Productivity in Latin America and the

Up to 70% of agricultural productivity growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is reduced when environmental costs are taken into account. The increase in production has been driven mainly by the intensive use of inputs rather than by technological or managerial improvements, highlighting the need for policies that integrate sustainability and innovation. (IDB, 2025)

Salazar, L., Tadeo Ruesta, D. V., Alvarez, L., Bernal Hernandez, S. ., & Martel, P. (2025). Agricultural Productivity in Latin America and the Caribbean (1961-2021): Subregional and National Analysis. Balduzzi Fiallos, M. S. (Ed.).

Decline in RIP agriculture in LAC

In 2023, the relative internal productivity of the Agriculture sector in Latin America and the Caribbean was 44 (with total productivity coefficient = 100), showing its lag compared to sectors with higher productivity, according to the sectoral graph of the report (ECLAC, 2025).

En 2023, la productividad relativa interna del sector Agricultura en América Latina y el Caribe fue 44 (con coeficiente de productividad total = 100), evidenciando su rezago frente a sectores de mayor productividad, según el gráfico sectorial del informe (CEPAL, 2025).

Cultural management in ecological practices

A comparative study conducted by the University of Costa Rica (UCR) analyzes agroecological practices in Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama, highlighting the role of cultural agricultural management and ancestral knowledge in farm sustainability. Through interviews and field observation, it identifies key categories such as soil fertility, productive diversification, biological control, and resource conservation. The article shows how peasant traditions strengthen resilience, productive autonomy, and local innovation, driven by cooperation networks between farmers, NGOs, and international agencies.

Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.

Picado, H. V. (2024). Manejo cultural en prácticas agroproductivas ecológicas, los casos de Nicaragua, Costa Rica y Panamá. Mercator (Fortaleza), 23, e23034.

Credit for women farmers

Between 4% and 13% of women farmers in Peru, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Brazil and Chile have access to credit (FAO, 2022).

FAO, 2022

FAO (2022). La protección de los derechos de las mujeres rurales en América Latina, estado actual de la legislación y políticas existentes en el contexto de pandemia covid-19.

Undernourishment in Nicaragua

19.3% of people in Nicaragua are undernourished in the period 2018-2020 (FAO, 2023).

FAO (2023)

FAO. 2023. Experiencias de articulación del enfoque de género e interculturalidad en instrumentos de seguridad alimentaria y nutricional en la región del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana – Intervenciones de mitigación de la COVID-19, Programas de Alimentación Escolar, Guías Alimentarias Basadas en Alimentos. Panamá.

Evidence detail

PRONACOM

MINECO

Carbon footprint of coffee in Costa Rica and Nicar

0.26 to 0.67 kg CO₂e is the carbon footprint for each kilogram of fresh coffee beans in conventional systems in Costa Rica and Nicaragua, while in organic management systems (agroforestry) the footprint is lower, between 0.12 and 0.52 kg CO₂e. (IICA, 2021)

IICA, 2021

IICA.2021. Hojas de información: buenas prácticas para una agricultura climáticamente inteligente. https://opsaa.iica.int/resource-1797-hojas-de-informacion:-buenas-practicas-para-una-agricultura-climaticamente-inteligente

# of countries with biofortification programs LAC

6 countries receive technical assistance from HarvestPlus for biofortification programs in Latin America and the Caribbean: Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Nicaragua and Panama (Bouis & Saltzman, 2017).

6 países reciben asistencia técnica de HarvestPlus para programas de biofortificación en América Latina y el Caribe: Bolivia, Colombia, Guatemala, Haití, Nicaragua y Panamá (Bouis & Saltzman, 2017).

Bouis, H.E., & Saltzman, A. (2017). Improving nutrition through biofortification: A review of evidence from HarvestPlus, 2003 through 2016. Global Food Security, 12, 49-58.