Hand in hand with IICA, the AAPRESID Congress is defining the agenda of agriculture in the Americas

Buenos Aires / San Jose, 22 July 2024 (AAPRESID/ IICA). Boasting a more than three-decade history of interconnecting innovation, technology and knowledge, the Argentine Association of No-Till Farmers (AAPRESID) will meet from 7- 9 August 2024. The event will see leading national and international authorities in the field coming together to discuss and define key issues for the future agenda, linking science and production to agricultural transformation, innovation and climate change adaptation and mitigation.

As part of a strategic partnership between AAPRESID and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA)—the international agency specializing in agricultural and rural development—the 2024 edition of the Congress will include a special section entitled “Agrifood Systems of the Americas: Future Prospects and Opportunities for the Producer”, featuring eminent international speakers and personalities.

The section will begin with a panel discussion on “The Future of Agrifood Systems of the Americas”, with an introduction by Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, discussing areas of opportunity for agriculture in the region; its main drivers (technological, commercial and institutional), as well as the pending agenda.

Eminent professor, Rattan Lal—2020 Food Prize laureate and co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, who is considered the world’s leading authority on soil sciences—will speak to the importance of soil health as a solution to current food security and climate challenges.

Izabella Teixeira, Special Advisor to IICA on the G20, COP 29 and COP30 and a former Minister of the Environment of Brazil, will share her vision of agriculture as a key component of environmental sustainability.

Kip Tom, farmer and former US Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, will focus on the role of public policies as a central element of innovation and sustainability.

Joachim Von Braun, the prestigious German scientist from the University of Bonn, in Germany, will share his experience on the bioeconomy and agriculture of the future.

This opening session will provide a framework for the more targeted panel discussions that both institutions will offer during the Congress.

First, the panel discussion “Sustainability and Value Addition: Strategic Focus for Agriculture in the Americas”, will feature outstanding experts, such as Carina Pimenta, Secretary of the Bioeconomy of Brazil; Hugo Chavarría, Manager of IICA’s Innovation and Bioeconomy Program; and Eduardo Trigo, a consultant to international organizations. Together, they will put into perspective what the bioeconomy represents for agriculture and agrifood systems of the region; the progress made thus far and what remains to be done.

On the other hand, the panel discussion, “Digital Innovation Ecosystems: Global Experiences and Outlooks” will discuss innovation and digital transformation processes based on global perspectives and experiences. Specifically, it will share the experiences of countries such as Israel, the United States and the United Kingdom—as examples of countries that have been successful in building innovation ecosystems—aiming to spark an enriching discussion on how to accelerate this process in agriculture in Argentina and the Americas.

Finally, the panel discussion on “Carbon Farming: the Shift Towards Sustainable Agriculture in the Americas” will address the development and implementation of climate smart production systems in agriculture in the Americas and work being carried out in the scientific sphere, companies, international organizations and producer associations, to strengthen this area.

The panel discussion will serve as a forum to reflect on the challenges and opportunities facing agriculture in the region, as it seeks to position itself as a partner in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Both IICA and AAPRESID recognize the importance of working in networks, bringing together major players in the agriculture sector to ensure that agriculture in the Americas undergoes the transformation needed to become more productive and sustainable.

Thus, guided by the slogan, “Everything is Connected”, the 32nd AAPRESID Congress, will discuss how to ensure that more and more producers adopt best practices; that governments foster sustainable and regenerative agriculture; and that scientific institutions and companies contribute to developing technologies and generating knowledge to enhance innovation. 

About AAPRESID and the 32nd Congress, “Everything is Connected”

The Argentine Association of No-Till Farmers (AAPRESID) is a non-profit non-governmental organization and a global leader in the promotion of sustainable food, fiber and energy production systems, through collaborative innovation, science and network-based knowledge.
Consisting of a network of farmers and professionals from the agriculture sector, AAPRESID promotes production systems that are based on productive, regenerative and innovative agriculture and the following key areas of focus: soil protection, living and diverse landscapes; ecological and technological management and network innovation.

For the first time, the AAPRESID Congress will be held at the “Predio La Rural” in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires and will include more than 100 conferences taking place simultaneously and focusing on 4 main perspectives: the economic; production and environmental; social and technological.

For more information, please see:  https://congreso.aapresid.org.ar/

The content of the AAPRESID Congress is developed and conceptualized by interdisciplinary groups of distinguished scholars and institutions, as well as AAPRESID partners and producers, applying a specific methodology to determine key issues for the future. Moreover, the Congress has positioned itself as a forum for business and to facilitate interaction among companies that are banking on state-of-the art technology and seeking to engage with producers who are leading the way in technology adoption.  

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