Family Farming at the Center of New Food Security Strategy

The new report, Improving Food Security and Nutrition Through Local Public Food Procurement From Family Farming, presented by the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), reveals the transformative potential of public food procurement from small-scale producers to strengthen food security and nutrition in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Family farming represents 81% of all agricultural holdings in the region, yet it faces persistent challenges such as low productivity, limited market access, and high vulnerability to extreme climate events. By channeling public spending toward this sector, governments create structured demand that stimulates production, diversifies diets and drives inclusive economic growth.

In 2024, Latin America and the Caribbean saw a reduction of 1.5 million people no longer experiencing hunger. However, the region continues to face serious challenges: 181.9 million people cannot afford a healthy diet, and rural poverty remains a major concern. In response, the UN agencies presented a report demonstrating how local procurement offers a cost-effective solution by leveraging public budgets to provide nutritious foods while promoting economic and social development.

René Orellana, Assistant Director General and Regional Representative, FAO Latin America and the Caribbean, emphasized that local procurement of food produced by family farmers redefines how public spending can drive development and improve nutrition across the region. However, he recalled that family farming faces structural barriers such as low productivity, limited access to markets and high climate vulnerability, which makes policies like public procurement essential.

Lola Castro, Regional Director, WFP for Latin America and the Caribbean, stated that public procurement from small producers is a powerful tool for inclusion and resilience. “Short supply chains and zero-kilometer foods multiply economic opportunities for communities, safeguard culinary heritage, and contribute to public health, since products are harvested at their optimal point and travel shorter distances from farm to consumer, resulting in higher nutritional value,” she added.

The study shows that countries that allocate part of their public food procurement budgets to local family farmers obtain significant benefits. In Brazil, for example, evidence shows that participating producers can increase their income by up to 106%, and women’s participation in public food markets increases from 23% to 61%, demonstrating that such policies can promote equity. Similarly, in Honduras and Guatemala, 478 jobs are created for every US$1 million invested.

Marco Llinás, Director of the Division of Productive and Business Development, ECLAC, noted that it is not enough to simply connect producers to markets; policies must also strengthen their productive, technological and organizational capacities. “Only then will they be able to improve their productivity, integrate into dynamic and sustainable value chains and increase their income, while boosting production, reducing consumer prices and contributing to food security,” he said.

The report emphasizes that, to scale the impact of public procurement, it is essential to leverage synergies between procurement policies and broader productive development efforts, such as science, technology, innovation, technological extension services, human talent, financing and quality standards, among others.

Family Farming in Mexico

In Mexico, small and medium producers are farmers who manage small plots of land or small-scale agricultural operations, generally connected to family farming. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), this group contributes 50% of national production, employs over 60% of the paid workforce, provides a fundamental share of raw materials for the agro-industry and helps preserve genetic and food diversity.

Through the Production for Well-Being program, the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum has strengthened support for small producers. The program benefits producers of grains such as corn, beans, rice, wheat, amaranth and chia, as well as coffee, sugarcane, cocoa, nopal and honey. In 2025, the Government of Mexico’s investment reached MX$15 billion (US$820.5 million), directly benefiting 2 million farmers.

More recently, Julio Berdagué, Minister of Agriculture, reported that as part of Plan Michoacán, around 10,000 small and medium producers will be supported with a federal investment of MX$292 million and MX$1.5 billion in credit, the latter provided at low interest rates and with technical assistance. Additionally, the state will expand corn collection services for small producers through the direct purchase of 30,000 tons of corn across 30 collection centers located in 27 municipalities in 30 localities.