He takes office on Friday, 15 January.
San Jose, 13 January 2010 (IICA). To promote competitive and sustainable agriculture in the Americas, the new Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Víctor M. Villalobos, proposes strengthening trade, rural development with a territorial approach, agricultural health and food safety, and respect for the environment.
These will be IICA’s priorities from 15 January onwards, when Mexican Víctor M. Villalobos takes over the reins of this inter-American agency.
Villalobos held a press conference on 11 January at the Cultural Institute of Mexico in Costa Rica to announce his plans and pledge his commitment to a permanent, open process of accountability with the international community.
He said that “agriculture is once again attracting attention in the international scenario for two basic reasons: agriculture’s links with the environment and the search for better ways to supply the world with food.”
“As a productive continent, a depository of genetic resources and a producer of food, the Americas is undoubtedly called upon to guarantee food security for humankind,” the new Director General told the media representatives present.
Elected by the hemisphere’s ministers of agriculture during their most recent meeting, held in Jamaica last October, he will hold the post for four years (2010-2014).
Until recently, he was Coordinator of International Affairs of Mexico’s Secretariat of Agriculture. Víctor M. Villalobos has a degree in agricultural engineering from the National School of Agriculture of Chapingo, a master’s degree in plant genetics from the Graduate School, and a Ph.D. from the University of Calgary, in Alberta, Canada.
Insulza will be taking part in the swearing-in ceremony
The Secretary General of the Organization of American States, José Miguel Insulza, will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of the new Director General, which will be held at IICA’s Headquarters in Coronado.
Also taking part will be the President of Costa Rica, Óscar Arias Sánchez, and Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture, Francisco Mayorga.
The Minister of Agriculture of Jamaica, Christopher Tufton, in his capacity as Chairman of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture, IICA’s highest governing body, will be responsible for swearing in the new Director General.
The Institute’s outgoing Director General, Barbadian Chelston W. D. Brathwaite, will welcome the participants to the House of Agriculture of the Americas, and deliver the opening address.
An important delegation from Mexico is expected to attend the ceremony, comprised of senior government officials, lawmakers, entrepreneurs, and former secretaries of agriculture.
For more information, contact
