Food availability is a factor directly related to the productivity of raw food supplies, as grains, root and tubers, oil and molasses. Access to food is a factor directly related with the prevailing socio-economic conditions in a particular zone or country. The causes and consequences of food insecurity and poverty are inextricably linked. Within the above context, food production growth should be sustained as a guarantee of food security considering the differences among the RLAC countries and internally among the different social sectors. This inequality is increasing and a society under such conditions cannot have food security.
Agriculture is a fundamental sector for the establishment of an appropriate food production system.
Consequently, appropriate agricultural development can generate increased food availability, improving social development and providing better access to food. Agricultural biotechnology development in the LAC Region is characterised by a repetitive and academic model in where many of the project objectives do not respond to the real needs of crop production and food security in the Region. Frequently, research projects and laboratories repeat work that has already been conducted by advanced research groups of developed countries without any further innovation and with a low degree of scientific creativity. This situation reduces opportunities for the development of projects on plant biotechnology with a significative impact on crop production or food security. Plant biotechnology offers a wide scope of possibilities for increasing productivity, diversification and growth of the production and the development of a more sustainable agriculture.