Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Food and nutrition security Trade

Congressman Crawford and Leaders of the US Agricultural Sector Meet with IICA Director General Manuel Otero

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

Express Support for IICA’s Drive for Science Based Policies Globally

Congressman Rick Crawford, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Ken Isley, Staff members from Congressional offices of Senators Joni Ernst, Mike Braun, and John Boozman, and leaders from virtually every sector of American agriculture participated in a virtual roundtable with Director General Manuel Otero of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)

San José, October 15, 2020 (IICA). Congressman Rick Crawford, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Ken Isley, Staff members from Congressional offices of Senators Joni Ernst, Mike Braun, and John Boozman, and leaders from virtually every sector of American agriculture participated in a virtual roundtable with Director General Manuel Otero of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).  The active roundtable discussed issues important to U.S. agricultural trade, as well as ensuring food security, and national security in the Hemisphere.

Jaime Castañeda, Senior Vice President of Policy Strategy and Trade and Executive Director of the U.S. Dairy Export Council kicked off the roundtable, remarking “USDEC values its collaboration with IICA because of our shared values for science-based policies, inclusiveness and active partnership in the Americas.  IICA plays a critical role in the dissemination of valuable and applicable information while promoting agriculture and rural development in the region.  The world, but in particular the Americas benefit greatly from IICA efforts to promote these values in International Organizations were foreign interests to the Americas are pushing non-science based principles.”

“I appreciate IICA’s efforts to promote science-based policies and standards in the Western Hemisphere, while also driving innovation for agricultural development and international trade,” said Congressman Rick Crawford.

IICA’s commitment to work with agricultural private sector is a tenant of Director General Otero’s policies, as he stated “In agriculture, and in the economy in general, the private sector is an engine for growth. I believe it is essential to build strong alliances with both, the public and private sectors, to ensure a strong trading block and promote innovation and digital transformation in the región.  IICA knows that a strong American agricultural sector drives opportunities for the agriculture sectors of Latin American and Caribbean countries to be more competitive, sustainable and inclusive.” 

IICA Director General Otero assured Congressman Crawford, Administrator Isley, and the leaders of the US agriculture sector that IICA will continue to stand firm in advancing sound science policies, innovation, and new technologies to ensure a stronger agricultural system in the Western Hemisphere and food security for all.

More information:
Institutional Communication Division at IICA 
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int

Share

Related news​

Madrid, España

September 16, 2025

The IICA Director General, during a working visit to Spain, met with the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas; visited the Spanish Congress and was honored by Universidad de Córdoba

In his meeting with Planas, Otero reflected on the close collaboration with Spain and characterized the Institute’s technical cooperation as systemic, efficient and collaborative, providing benefits to more than ten million farmers and actively undertaking 358 projects to enhance food security and rural development.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

September 10, 2025

Erick Geovany Ac Tot, a cocoa entrepreneur who promotes high-quality cocoa and the preservation of ancestral trees in Guatemala, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality 

Erick Geovany Ac Tot—a prominent Guatemalan cocoa entrepreneur who has been assisting small farmer organizations, promoting high-quality cocoa production and preserving heirloom trees for years, in addition to being a cocoa taster—has been named a Leader of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). 

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Durante el llamado Diálogo Regional sobre Innovaciones para la Adaptación Climática de pequeños productores del Corredor Seco Centroamericano, los participantes discutieron temas clave como ganadería resiliente, agroforestería, innovación productiva y medidas de adaptación frente a sequías, inundaciones y otros eventos climáticos.

San Salvador

September 9, 2025

In El Salvador, Leaders of Rurality of the Americas shared experiences and engaged in dialogue with youth and specialists on ways to strengthen productivity in the Central American Dry Corridor

The leaders who participated in the meeting were Macarena Valdés and Marco Aceituno from Chile; Elvia Monzón, Gustavo Rivas and Erick Ac from Guatemala; Katy Moncada and Eodora Méndez from Honduras; and Odette Varela and Salomón Zelada from El Salvador.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins