San José, 22 July 2026 (IICA) – Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas, attending a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in San José,concurred that effectively responding to external shocks would depend on ensuring greater regional cooperation, fair trade, the acceleration of innovation,strengthening of production capacities, and collaboration with the private sector.
During the event, the agricultural authorities and experts of the Americas analyzed the main challenges facing the agrifood systems of the region and the actions needed to boost resilience in a global climate marked by high production costs, energy volatility, geopolitical tensions, climate risks, transboundary diseases, and trade disruptions that are putting a strain on the response capacity of countries.
The discussions took place during the forum on “Resilient Agrifood Systems of the Americas: Reducing Vulnerabilities to External Shocks,” which was held during the meeting of the IICA Executive Committee, one of the governing bodies of the hemispheric organization.
The forum facilitated technical-policy discussions, which included a presentation by Seth Meyer, Director of the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) of the University of Missouri, who provided an in-depth look at the global context and the external shocks that are affecting agrifood systems.
He explained that the recent volatility in international agricultural markets has followed a common pattern: simultaneous falloffs in global production, trade restrictions, geopolitical conflicts, and increases in energy and fertilizer costs.
Meyer noted that, “Producers are faced with extremely high input costs, although the prices that they receive for their products remain relatively low. This combination is placing significant pressure on profit margins across the world.”
He warned that, although the international food supply is relatively stable, the convergence of these factors requires that countries build resilience through innovation, the capacity to adapt, as well as open and transparent trade.
“Trade within the Americas and with countries further afield is a means of ensuring food security. When trade is transparent, this helps to mitigate price increases and to better withstand shocks. The Americas has developed an extraordinary agricultural supply system, thanks to production in the northern and southern hemispheres. Thus, the world is never far away from a major harvest,” he noted, in reference to the production potential of the region.
Michelle Bekkering, Deputy Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), pointed out that although it is impossible for countries to control all disruptions, they can better anticipate them, share solutions, and build resilient supply chains. She also stressed the critical need to conduct intraregional trade with clear rules, while also outlining the priorities of her country.
Bekkering remarked that, “We can work together as a region to better predict risks. All of us are struggling with high input costs. The United States declared an emergency surrounding the availability of fertilizers. We have the Defense Production Act that seeks closer collaboration with the private sector to improve domestic production of fertilizer. In terms of production and sustainability, the country has focused heavily on biotechnology, science, food safety, animal health, and on controlling biorisks. The United States is looking to IICA to lead efforts related to detention, prevention, and solutions, by drawing on lessons learned and coordinating joint work in these areas,” said Bekkering.
Julio Duarte Van Humbeck, the Paraguayan Ambassador in Costa Rica, stressed that increased production costs were affecting developing economic and land-locked countries in particular. Therefore, there is a critical need to strengthen regional cooperation and consolidate open markets.
“Amid rising production costs and market access barriers, it is critical that we strengthen regional cooperation and public-private partnerships. Sharing successful experiences and promoting clear rules will help build more resilient agrifood systems and generate more opportunities for producers,” he remarked. He also described Paraguay’s successful experiences in conservation agriculture, short marketing circuits, the dairy chain, and productive integration through public-private partnerships.
In the same vein, Aleksandar Jotanovic, Senior Multilateral Affairs Officer of the Trade Policy Division at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, emphasized that resilience begins by empowering producers through improved access to inputs, technology, and information.
“It all starts with farmers. They need access to land, inputs, information, technology, and markets, and therules of the game must be clear. Science and innovation are key to increasing productivity, strengthening food security, and preparing our agrifood systems for the future,” he remarked.
Innovation to increase productivity and reduce vulnerability
Another point of consensus among the region’s agricultural authorities during the IICA Executive Committee meeting was that increasing productivity through technological innovation, sustainable agriculture, and better public policies is key to addressing these external shocks.
“Innovation, low-carbon agriculture, bio-inputs, and greater coordination with the private sector are priorities for strengthening the resilience of agrifood systems in the Americas. Brazil is eager to share its experience and work with countries in the hemisphere to jointly address the challenges of food, energy, and climate security,” explained Cleber Soares, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil.
Fernando Vargas, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, noted that “technology is key to producing more, with greater competitiveness, at a lower cost, and with fewer inputs.” He pointed out that “smart agriculture, sensor technology, digital platforms, data analysis, and bio-inputs can boost productivity and help attract young people to the agriculture sector.”
Raquel Solís, Deputy Minister of Productive Agricultural Development of Ecuador, commented on her country’s “Manos al Campo” public policy, supported by IICA. She explained that the policy serves as a roadmap for productivity, markets, sustainability, innovation, family farming, financing, and technical assistance. She also endorsed the regional push for bio-input use, with the support of regulatory frameworks that guarantee quality and biosafety.
“Agrifood system resilience does not depend solely on increasing production; it requires strong institutions, international cooperation, ongoing innovation, strong phytosanitary services, and open markets based on scientific evidence,” she stated.
Producers at the center of public policies
The agricultural authorities also agreed that resilience to external shocks must be built at the local level, by placing producers at the center of public policies and strengthening their capacity to face risks.
José Francisco Ordoñez, Undersecretary for Agriculture of Honduras, argued that public policies can be translated into concrete results through greater productivity, job creation, institutional strengthening, expanded irrigation, climate monitoring, and greater collaboration among producers.
Víctor Manuel Vanegas Tapia, Chief of Staff at the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development of Mexico, proposed strengthening regional risk management through early warning systems, the sharing of information, and cooperation in response to health, climate, and supply emergencies, in addition to promoting bio-inputs and regulatory innovation.
“Producers must be at the center of this cooperation, with technical capacities, on-the-ground support, and coordination between governments, research centers, the private sector, and international organizations,” concluded Tapia.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
