Soul of Rurality

IICA’s recognition of the Leaders of Rurality of the Americas is part of an initiative that seeks to turn the spotlight on men and women who are leaving their mark and making a difference in the rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean.

It pays tribute to those who play an unparalleled dual role: as guarantors of food and nutritional security and as caretakers of the planet’s biodiversity. It also emphasizes their capacity to drive positive changes in the rural areas of the region. For all these reasons, these individuals are the Soul of Rurality.

Leaders of Rurality of the Americas

Abigail Mamani Mamani, a young Bolivian woman who fuses ancestral wisdom with urban life to reconnect to the land, is recognized as an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

At just 26 years of age, Abigail Mamani Mamani already has an impressive track record as an advocate for rediscovering one’s roots, community work and respect for the land. From the city of El Alto, Bolivia, Abigal is in constant dialogue with the rural community of Ancoraimes, Macamaca, the birthplace of her parents, while also overseeing a lifelong mission that fuses spirituality, traditional agriculture and new approaches to development.

Fabio Ramírez, a producer and teacher with thousands of followers on social media who learn about the Colombian countryside, is recognized by IICA as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Fabio Andrés Ramírez is a proud son of the Pacho area, “a town of oranges,” in the department of Cundinamarca, in central Colombia. A few years ago, he became a prominent creator of digital content and now has over 67,000 followers on Facebook, another 33,000 on TikTok, and about 53,000 on YouTube. He offers them interesting (and sometimes humorous) videos that show the everyday life of farmers, images of cattle fairs, photos of the land and the region’s lush landscapes, interviews with small-scale coffee growers or with fellow Colombians of all ages who smile at the camera on his mobile phone.

Ramona Vargas, a renowned community leader from Paraguay who advocates for fair trade and promotes organic sugarcane farming, is honored by IICA as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Ramona will receive the Soul of Rurality award, an initiative of the Inter-American System’s specialized agency for agricultural and rural development, aimed at recognizing men and women who leave a mark and make a difference in the rural areas of the continent.

Duhaje Jennings, a producer who has infused science and passion into Jamaican beekeeping and inspired new generations of beekeepers, has been named an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Duhaje Jennings, a visionary in Jamaican beekeeping, demonstrates his connection to the industrious bees, whose work has been the basis of his successful business, Dada B’s.

Maritza Solano Arce, an entrepreneur who proved that high-quality gourmet cheeses can be produced in Costa Rica’s rural areas, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Maritza produces twenty-five different varieties, including raclette, hard Gruyere cheeses, bloomy rind cheeses, such as Camembert and Brie, tomme cheeses and creamy gourmet cheeses in five different flavors.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Office of the Director General

Directors Emeritus

Members

Observer countries

Associated​

IICA 3D

CIMAG

AgroArt