Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Territorial Development and Family Farming

The program will focus on collaboration with governments and social, economic and entrepreneurial family farming (FF) cooperatives, with a view to promoting the design and application of public policies aimed at fostering systemic competitiveness in rural areas, mid-sized cities, production units and businesses. The program will also seek to integrate various concepts into cooperation activities, such as the notion of institutional quality, public investment policies and the promotion of private investment and associative efforts.

To this end, the program will continue to contribute to the design and implementation of policies, programs and projects to facilitate the inclusion of FF production in agrifood systems, as well the development of a new generation of public policies. There will be a focus on associative strategies that facilitate agricultural competitiveness, ecosystem sustainability, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, the reduction of depopulation and migration, and coordination and investment in public and private enterprises in rural areas. The program will work with countries to:

  • Promote and support the development of a new generation of public FF policies that drive the development of rural territories and agrifood systems. The aim is to ensure the inclusion of family farming production units and to increase their supply and demand capacity, through their promotion and inclusion in effective and efficient cooperative enterprises, by way of public-private partnerships.
  • Facilitate the social and economic inclusion of FF in agrifood systems, through technical cooperation activities.
  • Contribute to enhancing FF competitiveness in rural areas and agrifood systems, by developing associative capacities, with a focus on promoting cooperative efforts.
  • Spearhead actions to strengthen the capacities of regional policy integration organizations and institutions to stimulate discourse on territorial development- and FF-related public policies.

Specialist

Program Manager

 

Technical team

 

Advisory team

  • Álvaro Ramos, Uruguay
  • José Emilio Guerrero, Spain

Contact us

Mario León Frutos

Program manager

mario.leon@iica.int

Technical Cooperation Direction

dct@iica.int

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Multimedia

Explore our videos and discover IICA’s impact on agriculture and rural development throughout the region.

Canada

July 24, 2025

Leaders Panel: Cultivating Tomorrow’s Agriculture Today

Canada

May 21, 2025

Plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy

Participantes del Foro Panamericano de Bioinsumos realizan una gira técnica en el Centro de Investigación La Selva de AGROSAVIA, conociendo prácticas innovadoras para el desarrollo y aplicación de bioinsumos que promueven una agricultura sostenible en América Latina.

Bogotá, Colombia

October 29, 2025

At a forum organized by IICA and its partners, senior Colombian government officials and specialists emphasized that regional cooperation on bioinputs is key to transforming agriculture in the Americas

More than 200 representatives from 18 countries, plus 47 speakers, came together for the Third Pan-American Bioinputs Forum in Colombia, an event consisting of two days of technical and political dialogue and one day of field visits. It was a reaffirmation of the commitment of the Americas to more sustainable, competitive and science-based agriculture.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Ottawa, Canada

October 29, 2025

“Breaking the Pattern” Event Highlights Women’s Crucial Role in Building Climate-Resilient Agriculture

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José

October 28, 2025

During a visit to El Salvador, IICA’s Director General visited spaces dedicated to agricultural innovation and sustainability, and was honored for his contributions to food security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Director General’s presence reflected IICA’s commitment to continue supporting El Salvador’s efforts to make its agriculture sector more resilient, innovative and sustainable every day, thereby contributing to the wellbeing of rural families and the country’s economic development.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins