ATLAS FOR
AGRICULTURE
IN THE AMERICAS
AGRICULTURE
IN THE AMERICAS
América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) es una región protagónica en el mercado mundial de productos agroalimentario. Actualmente, participa con cerca del 14% del total de exportaciones agroalimentarias de todo el mundo. Durante el 2017, las exportaciones netas de la región alcanzaron los USD 148 000 millones, lo cual se traduce en 2.6 dólares exportados por cada dólar importado. Hoy en día los países de ALC lideran los mercados internacionales de frutas tropicales, café, raíces y tubérculos, oleaginosas y cereales, entre otros.
As well as being an important supplier of agrifood products to the world, agriculture makes major economic and social contributions. Over the last year, the agriculture sector accounted for 4.6% of LAC’s GDP and more than 14% of all employment in the region. This figure is considerably higher in rural areas, where around 54.6% of the working population are involved in agricultural activities.
In addition to its current role in agrifood markets, LAC is one of the regions best placed to increase food production in a sustainable manner, thanks to its biological riches and the land and water available. However, there are also important challenges to overcome with regard to the distribution and management of resources among and within countries.
This publication is intended to highlight the share of important agrifood products that the region supplies to the rest of the world, in order to contribute data and useful information for decision-making.
This first edition includes systematized information on the 5 main exports of the countries of the Andean, Central, Southern, Caribbean and Northern Regions. The information demonstrates the importance of these products both within Latin America, as well as within the global market, in a clear, organized and rapid manner. It also provides a general overview of the meat and dairy export markets of Latin America and the Caribbean. We trust that in addition to serving as a source of reference for decision makers, the information presented here, which will be updated periodically, will be useful in fostering dialogue between governments and will be an incentive to increase trade and horizontal cooperation. Indeed, we hope that it will represent a starting point for the formulation of initiatives that will strengthen the development and well-being of the 125 million inhabitants of rural areas in LAC.
Manuel Otero
Director General
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture
A LEADING PLAYER IN GLOBA AGRIFOOD MARKET