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​

Santa Fé, Darién, Panamá

September 4, 2025

Coordination between IICA and Panamanian and U.S. government authorities bolsters the fight against New World screwworm in Central America and Mexico

As part of the efforts to curb the spread of the New World screwworm (NWS), a current health threat in Central America and Mexico, the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) of Panama, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Panama-United States Commission for the Eradication and Prevention of Screwworm (COPEG) organized a meeting with livestock farmers in the city of Santa Fé de Darién to strengthen health surveillance and better protect local livestock production.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

El Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero, reafirmó en la inauguración de Biohélice 2025 el compromiso del Instituto con la bioeconomía como eje estratégico para transformar el agro y revitalizar los territorios rurales. En el acto lo acompañaron la Directora General de CINDE, Marianela Urgellés; el Rector de la UNA, Jorge Herrera; y el presidente de CRBiomed, Álvaro Peralta.

San Jose, Costa Rica

September 3, 2025

Specialists and partners at a meeting spearheaded by IICA view the bioeconomy as essential in positioning Costa Rica and the Americas as leaders in sustainability and production transformation

The bioeconomy specialists were participating in Biohélice 2025, an event organized by Costa Rica’s Universidad Nacional, the CRBiomed association and IICA, which brought together more than 130 participants with an interest in innovation and bioeconomy.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Alagoas, Brasil

September 1, 2025

Eliane Faria de Souza, a fisherwoman from Northeastern Brazil combining old traditions with innovative ideas to protect the environment, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas

Eliane works with other women in the region to transform polluting waste substances into organic fertilizer.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins