- The partnership will make it possible to implement the Observatory of Public Policies for Agri-food Systems in the Andean Community (OPSAa – Andino) and improve information for the agricultural sector in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
- It will also establish the OPSAa Andino Situation Room, which will be located at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Andean Community in Lima, Peru.
Gonzalo Gutiérrez, Secretary General of the Andean Community, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.
San José, Costa Rica, 9 June 2025 (IICA/Andean Community) – The General Secretariat of the Andean Community and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) have signed a cooperation agreement to implement the Observatory of Public Policies for Agri-food Systems in the Andean Community (OPSAa–Andino), a strategic tool aimed at strengthening agricultural activity in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
OPSAa–Andino will be established as a technical platform for analysis, monitoring, and knowledge management to support the formulation and implementation of agri-food policies aligned with regional challenges. Its approach will be based on policy mapping and strategic information gathering, identifying trends, generating evidence-based recommendations, and promoting policy dialogue.
OPSAa Andino is emerging as a key tool for technical analysis and knowledge management, driving agri-food policies aligned with the region’s challenges.
The digital tool will provide Andean subregional producers with centralized access to key information on agri-food systems. It will feature an intuitive design for easy access to up-to-date market price data, sustainable practices recommendations, climate alerts, and other functionalities. It will also promote the exchange of experiences among local farmers, supporting informed decision-making to optimize crop production.
The agreement was signed at IICA’s headquarters in San José, Costa Rica, by IICA Director General Manuel Otero and the Secretary General of the Andean Community, Ambassador Gonzalo Gutiérrez.
OPSAa–Andino represents a key opportunity to strengthen institutional and operational capacities and the use of technology in the Andean countries in areas such as food security, international agri-food trade, regional integration, sustainability, and other priorities of the Andean Agricultural Agenda and its instruments.
As part of the partnership, the OPSAa–Andino Situation Room will also be launched to complement the digital platform. It will host in-person activities such as policy dialogues, technical events, workshops, and training programs. The Situation Room will be located at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Andean Community in Lima, Peru, and will be available to Andean countries as of August 2025.
This cooperation agreement consolidates a medium- and long-term technical agenda between the Andean Community and IICA to promote more effective and evidence-based public policies in the region.
“With this agreement with the Andean Community, we continue fulfilling our institutional mission by providing countries and regional integration mechanisms with tools to support informed decision-making, strengthening partnerships, and contributing to the development of the agricultural sector and farmers across the continent,” said Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.
Ambassador Gonzalo Gutiérrez, Secretary General of the Andean Community, highlighted the importance of working jointly with IICA in implementing the Andean Agricultural Agenda. “The observatory and the situation room to be launched under this agreement will help close the technological gaps in the Andean agri-food systems, especially benefiting smallholder farmers in the subregion,” he said. He added that this initiative responds to the mandate of the Andean Council of Ministers of Agriculture, which met in August last year and reaffirmed the importance of the agricultural sector as a cornerstone for food security, rural development, international trade, and job creation in the Andean region.
The new digital tool will provide Andean agricultural producers with centralized access to key information on market prices, sustainable practices, and climate alerts, facilitating decision-making and the exchange of experiences among farmers.
The agreement will remain in force for five years and may be renewed for an equal period, subject to joint review and evaluation of the results achieved.
About the Andean Community (CAN)
The Andean Community, established in 1969, is a regional integration organization that promotes the economic and social development of its Member Countries: Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Throughout its history, it has worked to strengthen cooperation and integration among nations, facilitating the movement of people and promoting both intra- and extra-regional trade. The CAN is committed to improving the well-being of its more than 114 million citizens.
More information:
Communications SGCAN
Fernando Reyes Q.
freyes@comunidadandina.org
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
