Based in Arizona, USA, Garden Pool is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research and the development of educational strategies related to sustainable food production methods. Its CEO, Dennis McClung, is the first Goodwill Ambassador to be appointed under IICA’s new program.
San Jose, Costa Rica, 31 October 2018 (IICA). The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) today named Dennis McClung, founder, President and CEO of Garden Pool, a not-for-profit organization based in Arizona, USA, as its Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development. Garden Pool is dedicated to research and the development of educational strategies related to sustainable food production methods.
IICA Director General Manuel Otero granted McClung this distinction for the contributions his work has made to the promotion of the Institute’s ideals and commitment to agriculture, food security, equity and the sustainable development of rural territories in the Americas.
“Extreme climate events disrupt the economic, social and productive life of the countries they affect. We need to design and implement differentiated strategies in the Caribbean—especially the Eastern Caribbean—to deal with such events and develop resilience. Going forward, we hope to continue to work with partners like Garden Pool with increasingly sophisticated projects for climate smart agriculture,” Otero remarked.
Among other initiatives, McClung developed a miniature self-sufficient food production system that uses 98 percent less water than traditional methods, does not use chemical or pesticide fertilizers and is easy to maintain. The system is under construction in several parts of the world, contributing to the food security of rural communities.
Garden Pool was also heavily involved in the recovery of Caribbean countries affected by extreme climate events in 2017.
McClung said he was honored to be named an IICA Goodwill Ambassador.
“We are doing wonderful things with IICA. Solid projects with the support of all the member countries. We can do even more to mitigate the impact of climate change. We have the technology to overcome obstacles and create a better future. I accept this honor with all humility and with a commitment to do more and more,” Garden Pool’s founder and CEO commented.
Cooperation agreement
IICA and Garden Pool also signed a cooperation agreement today under which they will implement actions designed to encourage and promote progress in the agriculture sectors of the Caribbean countries, through capacity building and the creation of favorable conditions for those nations.
Under the four-year partnership, the two organizations will focus their joint efforts on eight areas of cooperation related to climate smart technologies, sustainable production systems, technology transfer, capacity building for innovation, communication technologies and knowledge management, data analysis, productivity, and the competitiveness of the agriculture sector and the implementation of externally funded projects.
The development of joint projects to be implemented under this partnership will be coordinated by McClung and the IICA Representative in Trinidad and Tobago, Gregg E. Rawlins.
During the ceremony held to honor McClung, Rawlings highlighted Garden Pool’s role in climate change mitigation.
“The partnership is part of IICA’s efforts to strengthen, modernize and diversify food production, making it more efficient and taking progress to rural communities in the Caribbean region,” noted IICA’s Representative in Trinidad and Tobago.
More information:
Gregg E. Rawlins, the Institute’s Representative in Trinidad and Tobago
