Data or statistical facts on the situation and perspectives of agri-food systems and the impact of policies
5,000 years of artificial selection have been necessary to develop the main variants of food crops we know today, highlighting the patient work of generations of farmers to adapt plants to specific conditions (Velásquez, A., 2025).
25 times higher is the proportional investment in agricultural research and development in North America and Europe (51%) compared to Latin America and the Caribbean (2%), evidencing a deep technological gap according to UNESCO data (2021) (Velásquez, A., 2025).
85% more effective are agricultural extension programs that incorporate digital components for technology transfer in Latin America, being fundamental to materialize innovations and connect research with producers according to CAF evaluations (Velásquez, A., 2025).
22 billion dollars is estimated as the potential annual economic value of traditional agricultural knowledge of Latin America applied to bioeconomy and sustainable development, including domestication techniques, cultivation, and use of native species (Velásquez, A., 2025).
38% of global agrobiodiversity is found in Latin America, a region that has contributed fundamental crops such as corn, potato, cocoa, tomato, avocado, and many others to global food, constituting a strategic asset to face climate change (Velásquez, A., 2025).
300% has grown in the last decade the international trade of native varieties from Latin America such as quinoa, amaranth, maca, avocado, and specialty coffee, reflecting a growing interest in ancestral foods and agricultural biodiversity (Velásquez, A., 2025).
20% increase in added value have experienced traditional Latin American crops adapted to international standards, such as Hass avocado, Geisha coffee, or specific varieties of Andean potato, demonstrating opportunities for bio-businesses (Velásquez, A., 2025).
45% could increase Latin American agricultural productive efficiency through the coordinated implementation of digital transformation strategies, including adapted mechanization and robotics, digital innovation, and artificial intelligence according to CAF projections (Velásquez, A., 2025).
60% more food must be produced by Latin America by 2050 to contribute to global food security in the context of climate change, growing population, and resource constraints, requiring intensive innovation according to strategic projections (Velásquez, A., 2025).
70% of small farmers in Latin America do not have access to mechanization and technology adapted to their conditions, making investment in training and equitable access to specific technologies for the region a priority according to CAF's strategy (Velásquez, A., 2025).
