WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Governments of the United States and Brazil yesterday formalized a partnership to improve food security in Latin America and the Caribbean. The Memorandum of Understanding commences with a trilateral agreement with the Government of Haiti to improve agriculture practices and technologies.

“Brazil’s desire to pay forward its success in agricultural growth is remarkable,” said Mark Feierstein, assistant administrator for Latin America and the Caribbean at USAID. “By combining efforts, our countries can teach others how to improve nutrition for rural communities and increase incomes for poor farmers.”

In Haiti, the partnership will primarily focus on sharing new technologies and implementing exchange programs and training opportunities. The three governments will: 1) test new varieties of maize, rice, beans, cowpeas and other crops; 2) implement new farming systems that use less water, fertilizer, and seeds; 3) improve mango production; 4) adopt technologies to store and process grains and vegetables; 5) enable farmers to use their land to sustainably produce both food and wood; 6) conduct exchange and training programs for farmers and researchers; and 7) promote nutrition, specifically for mothers and children.

“This partnership leverages the expertise of Brazilians and Americans to make a difference in food security in the region and directly help Haitians,” noted Paul Weisenfeld, assistant administrator for food security at USAID.

The partnership builds upon the U.S. government’s Feed the Future initiative to help nearly 567,000 vulnerable Haitian women, children, and family members escape hunger and poverty and to provide 176,000 children with services to improve their nutrition and prevent stunting and child mortality.