Juan Luis Guerra honored by FAO in Rome

Dominican singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra was honored by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) during the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Food Forum in Rome, Italy. The recognition was awarded for his iconic song ‘Ojalá que llueva café en el campo’, which serves as a symbol of hope and prosperity for rural communities and the fight against hunger.

The ceremony took place in the presence of Dominican President Luis Abinader and First Lady Raquel Arbaje. The event also highlighted the Dominican Republic’s progress in food security, noting that the country reduced undernourishment prevalence from 21.3% in 2006 to less than 2.5% by 2025, moving it below the FAO threshold to exit the Hunger Map.

During the celebration, singer Maridalia Hernández performed the song, which was originally released in 1989. Guerra expressed his gratitude to the FAO and the Dominican delegation, noting that the song was inspired by a metaphor he encountered in Santiago de los Caballeros during the 1980s.