Experts analyzed the challenges faced by regional markets in Argentina

Buenos Aires, August 26, 2015 (IICA). Renowned international specialists, experts on the development of agribusiness and authorities from the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) analyzed the challenges and opportunities South America faces with regard to food production and discussed the contributions the Institute can provide to face those challenges.

The exchange took place at a workshop entitled “Challenges and Opportunities for IICA in the Agricultural Sector of the Andean and Southern Regions: Opportunities for Regional Markets,” a precursor to the upcoming international seminar “Knowledge and Outlook for the Development of Agribusiness in South America,” held in Tucumán, Argentina.

The Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Argentina (MAGyP), Gabriel Delgado, and the Director General of IICA, Víctor M. Villalobos, participated in the workshop.

In his opening speech, Villalobos spoke about the current status of agriculture in the face of significant global challenges, such as how to feed a growing population through productive, sustainable and inclusive agriculture.

The Secretary, on the other hand, discussed the challenges agriculture in Argentina currently faces, and shared with the participants the ways in which the country has been preparing to address them.

IICA’s opportunities in the face of agricultural demands, as well as mechanisms for regional integration, were analyzed and served as the basis for a debate among experts.

Félix Peña, a specialist from the International Trade Institute of the ICBC Foundation, gave a presentation on international agreements in South America; and Andres Kozel from the Outlook and Public Policy Research Institute of the National Institute for Agricultural Technology (INTA) referred to the challenges and opportunities the region faces with respect to the demand for food.

In attendance were several representatives from IICA offices in South America: Gino Buzzetti from Argentina; Juan Risi from Bolivia; Manuel Otero from Brazil; Luis Condines from Colombia; Alejandra Sarquis from Chile; Victor Arrúa from Ecuador; Miguel García from the United States; Hernán Chiriboga from Paraguay; María Febres from Peru; Antonio Donizeti from Uruguay; and Jaime Flores from Venezuela.

More information:
evangelina.beltran@iica.int