Family Agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean is made up of the large majority of agricultural producers and constitutes the highest proportion of the family work force. It generates the largest volume of production per area farmed and plays a fundamental and vital role in supplying food for a world plagued by hunger. Agriculture in the region is characterized by its sustainability and support for the demographic balance, for decentralization and for the sovereignty of food. It counteracts the trend towards production concentration and the commercialization of agricultural products and ownership of the land. This sector is also strategic because of its capacity for using the natural resources in a sustainable way and for preserving the cultural dimension and other values inherent in the rural livelihoods.

The Committee for Latin America and the Caribbean is a forum devoted to debate and work together on the regional issue of the family agricultural sector. 

Aims 

• To be a platform for the exchange of ideas and experiences between producers in the region who are looking to share their concerns and points of view on current agricultural policies.
  
• Act as a spokesperson for producers in Latin America and the Caribbean on a regional and international level.
  
• Support  peasant organizations to strengthen their structure.
  
• Act as a source of information and influence for regional institutions using specific recommendations formulated by the farmers themselves.
  
• Stimulate technical cooperation between agricultural organizations and other national and international organizations with links with the sector.

 Functions 

• Act as a permanent forum between member organizations in the region.

• Raise  its  mutual interests and common worries.

• Draw up actions to develop these interests and establish recommendations on agricultural policy in order to bring pressure on international organizations and governments.

• Develop  understanding on worldwide problems.

• Draw up specific recommendations formulated by farmers themselves, thereby carrying out a lobbying role.

• Forming strategic alliances with research and cooperation institutions, agricultural development agencies, etc.

• Participate in conferences and regional and international workshops where agricultural, economic and social policies affecting agriculture in the region are discussed. This will defend its point of view and  allow the participation of the members in regional and international events,

• Inspire and support the activities of agricultural organizations responding to the needs of agricultural producers in the region.

• Strengthen the capacity of the member agricultural organizations  through institutional development and training its leadership.

• Share information of interest between member agricultural organizations on the Committee.

• Promote policy documents from IFAP and robustly defend its position in meetings with different organizations

Press Release from the LAC Regional Committee Meeting in San José, Costa Rica on  June 22-25, 2009
Farmers at the Center of a Sustainable Future for Latin America