Acting through Decree Number 243-08, the Executive Power created a Food Security Council. The Council will be headed by President Leonel Fernández and the Minister of Agriculture will act as the council’s Vice-President.

The creation of the Council takes into account the fact that “the country has the opportunity to take advantage of the difficult world food situation by channeling its integral and sustained economic growth...

The Council will involve the Ministries of Presidential Administration, Economy, Planning and Development, Public Health and Social Assistance, Industry and Commerce, Environment and Natural Resources.

In addition, the General Administrator of the Agriculture Bank, the general directors of the Dominican Agrarian Institute, the general directors of the Institutes for Innovation, Biotechnology and Industry as well as the Dominican Association of Landowners and Farmers and the presidents of the Dominican Agro-Business Group and the Center for the Development of Farming and Agriculture.

The creation of the Council takes into account the fact that “the country has the opportunity to take advantage of the difficult world food situation by channeling its integral and sustained economic growth, based on knowledge, social capital and political stability,” according to a press release from the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

The decree establishes that, depending on the needs of the day, the Food Security Council can invite people and entities from the productive sectors.

Among the fundamental objectives of the Council is to design and carry out public policies necessary for the country to produce enough food at affordable prices.

 At the same time, it will seek to generate extra food production for reserves and contingencies and for export.

It also seeks to consolidate and strengthen the Dominican Social Protection System to guarantee the right to food and nutrition for the population, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, giving priority to children, pregnant or lactating women and senior citizens.