During the 2023–24 El Niño drought, daily Panama Canal transits fell to 24 vessels (versus the usual 36), with draft restrictions set at 44 feet. NOAA warns the 2026–27 El Niño could again lower Gatún Lake levels and replicate these disruptions, directly impacting regional agrifood trade.

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).

In the sectoral mapping of PAIs, agriculture, forestry, hunting and fishing accounts for 248 PAIs (34.8%), followed by manufacturing (188), tourism (70) and ICT (51); additionally, 32 PAIs in health are identified, according to the report (ECLAC, 2025).

Ecotrade is an initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), which, as a strategic partner, supports the strengthening of regional economic integration. The program aims to facilitate, streamline, and make trade between Central American countries and the European Union more sustainable by modernizing processes, improving connectivity, and reducing trade barriers, thereby contributing to a more competitive region with greater opportunities for people and businesses.

The Great Forests of Mesoamerica (GFM) Program is a five-year (2023–2027) European Union initiative under the #TeamEurope approach to strengthen the protection and sustainable use of Mesoamerica’s great forests and other relevant areas such as the Trifinio Region. Its overall objective is to improve conservation and sustainability through four components: (1) data and transparency for decision-making, (2) forest governance and biodiversity conservation, (3) sustainable and deforestation-free production and trade, and (4) environmental rights and forest defense. The program operates at regional, national and sub-national levels, combining technical assistance, work with regional partners, and cascading grants with local partners. It is designed to complement national and sub-national actions and to integrate synergies with more than 100 ongoing actions across Mesoamerican forests. Additionally, it includes a Program Secretariat within the #EURECA framework to ensure coordination, coherence and alignment with the EU’s strategic objectives in the region.

The project develops and validates methodologies to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dual-purpose livestock systems in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, combining indirect analyses based on IPCC (2006) guidelines with experimental studies in pastures and direct measurements of enteric methane. By classifying farms according to their level of intensification, the initiative assesses CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, their relationship with productivity, and key economic factors, demonstrating that farms with improved forage management and supplementation generate lower emissions per unit of product. In addition to producing local emission factors and more accurate Tier 2 calculation tools, the project strengthens producer capacities through training activities, promoting sustainable and competitive livestock systems with low GHG emissions.

Resolution MEF-RES-2026-1271 establishes a temporary fuel price stabilization mechanism in Panama, setting maximum reference prices of B/. 0.88 per liter for 91-octane gasoline, B/. 1.00 for 95-octane gasoline, and B/. 0.90 for diesel. Initially valid until May 1, 2026, and subject to biweekly adjustments, the scheme includes a state subsidy that covers the gap with market prices, aiming to mitigate the impact of rising international fuel prices on transport, logistics, production, and the cost of living.

The process developed for the preparation of Panama's “PAGIRH 2022-2026” was led by the Ministry of Environment and supported by the Global Water Partnership Central America (GWP CAM). The inputs for the national consultation workshops held as part of the process came from the following reports: Results of the SDG 6.5.1 Assessments for Panama 2020, the Regional Report on SDG 6.5.1 for Central America and the Dominican Republic 2021, the document on the Consensus of the Bicentennial Pact “Closing Gaps,” and other national strategic instruments related to IWRM. These contributed to establishing the basis for potential actions to be considered in their prioritization, so that these activities can advance toward the fulfillment of the goals established in the country's 2030 Agenda, especially those related to SDG 6.5.1.

"The Republic of Panama's National Plan for Integrated Water Resources Management 2010-2030 (PNGIRH) is defined as a planning tool that helps guide and coordinate public and private decisions, with the ultimate goal of maximizing the economic, environmental, and social function of water. Its main objective is to outline coordinated action between: • The public sector, in its capacity as a regulatory and supervisory body, as well as a promoter and investor in the development of the sector. • The private sector, as the entity responsible for the development of economic activities that impact water resources. • Civil society and other actors that interact in watersheds, where they are not only part of the problem, but also part of the solution. It is important to highlight the flexibility of the plan, which will allow for the adaptation of objectives, strategies, and policy instruments as the social, environmental, and economic environment changes, both internally and externally. Therefore, its results must be monitored in order to make the necessary adjustments in a timely manner. This principle of flexibility is consistent with the current National Water Resources Policy."

The project develops and validates methodologies to quantify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dual-purpose livestock systems in Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama, combining indirect analyses based on IPCC (2006) guidelines with experimental studies in pastures and direct measurements of enteric methane. By classifying farms according to their level of intensification, the initiative assesses CO₂, CH₄, and N₂O emissions, their relationship with productivity, and key economic factors, demonstrating that farms with improved forage management and supplementation generate lower emissions per unit of product. In addition to producing local emission factors and more accurate Tier 2 calculation tools, the project strengthens producer capacities through training activities, promoting sustainable and competitive livestock systems with low GHG emissions.

Institutional program of the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF) aimed at evaluating, highlighting, and strengthening the impact of its financing and technical cooperation operations in the agricultural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean. The initiative promotes a model of sustainable, inclusive, and regenerative agriculture, integrating climate resilience, technological innovation, efficient management of natural resources, and the inclusion of small producers in sustainable value chains.

This project developed and validated a regional system of physical, economic, social, and environmental indicators to assess the sustainability of dairy production in 11 countries, with trials on pilot farms and training for technicians and producers. Its importance lies in generating comparable methodologies and monitoring tools (such as OLE! and Monitor Lechero 2) that enable countries to measure, analyze, and improve the competitiveness and sustainability of the dairy chain at the regional level.