The FAO confirmed on July 21, 2026, that the Dominican Republic has managed to exit the global hunger map, after reducing the prevalence of undernourishment to less than 2.5%. The announcement was made at the National Palace during the presentation of the SOFI 2026 report, with the presence of national and international authorities.
The country becomes the fifth in Latin America to achieve this milestone, alongside Brazil, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Guyana.
Political Will and Coordination
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu highlighted: “It doesn’t matter if you are a big or small country, what counts is the firm political commitment of the president, ministers, farmers, NGOs, and the entire society to fight together against hunger”.
President Luis Abinader celebrated the achievement as a result of collective effort: “This is not just an achievement of the Government or a ministry. This is an achievement for everyone, especially the agricultural sector and our producers”.
National Production and Food Security
The Dominican Republic produces 85% of the food it consumes, strengthening food sovereignty. Among the implemented measures are:
- Zero-rate agricultural financing.
- Investment in productive and road infrastructure.
- Technification of the agricultural sector.
- Granting property titles to small and medium producers.
In 2025, agricultural production reached 347 million quintals, a growth of 5.6% compared to the previous year. Additionally, subsidies for fuels and fertilizers were expanded to mitigate the effects of the international crisis stemming from the war in Ukraine.
Key Social Programs
The progress towards Zero Hunger was also supported by social programs:
- School feeding: benefits 2.1 million students with breakfast, lunch, and snacks, incorporating local producers as suppliers.
- Feed Yourself Program: doubled beneficiaries and transfers, reaching 1.49 million households.
- Gas Voucher: provides access to liquefied gas for 1.3 million people.
- Economic dining rooms: increased from 35 to 163 establishments, offering 180,000 free daily meals.
- Agricultural fairs and mobile stores: facilitate access to fresh and quality food throughout the territory.
Impact and Sustainability
The Minister of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza, emphasized that fighting hunger is “an act of profound humanism.” The sustained reduction of undernourishment since 2020 confirms the effectiveness of comprehensive policies and the importance of maintaining them over time.
FAO stressed that the Dominican experience demonstrates how the combination of national production, social programs, and institutional coordination can generate sustainable results in the fight against hunger.
The Dominican Republic joins the group of Latin American countries that have achieved the goal of Zero Hunger, consolidating a model based on food sovereignty, social programs, and comprehensive public policies. The challenge now is to maintain this achievement and ensure that food security translates into nutritional well-being for the entire population.
