A pre-summit hosted by the Italian government brought together leaders and experts to discuss the need for more sustainable and equitable food systems, in the context of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda goals. Key figures like Antonio Guterres, Pope Francis, and Mario Draghi expressed concerns over the worsening poverty and economic inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic. Indigenous activist Myrna Cunningham highlighted the plight of indigenous communities, while Honduras' Minister of Agriculture, Mauricio Guevara Pinto, emphasized his country's vulnerability to climate change. The summit emphasized the need for a holistic approach to food systems, including small farmers' access to necessary services and credit, and calls for changes from all actors involved. Manuel Otero, director general of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture, stressed the importance of fairer development and an optimistic outlook for agriculture in Latin America.