IICA will promote greater attention to the rational use of natural resources in the agricultural sector

Punta del Este, Uruguay, November 2nd, 2012 (IICA). Generating knowledge in order to make more efficient use of natural resources in agriculture, and achieving new South-South partnerships that benefit the agricultural sector of developing nations, will be among the main subjects on the agenda of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) over the coming years, stated its Director General, Víctor M. Villalobos.

At the close of the Second World Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD2), held this week in Punta del Este, Uruguay, Villalobos informed the participants that IICA would urge that greater attention be paid to the rational use of natural resources in the agricultural sector, especially water and soils, and that this element be incorporated, as a priority, into the agricultural research arising from this international conference.

“The topics, although mentioned here, were presented very optimistically, but we have to place more emphasis on them. At the next GCARD, I would like us to ensure that these topics are dealt with in more depth”, stated the Director General of IICA.

However, he felt that the meeting of over 600 international researchers in agriculture in Uruguay produced three major results: international strategic partnerships were strengthened to support joint agricultural research, extension, and innovation; the role of women leaders, in many cases, of successful production units, was recognized; and the need to incorporate the private sector into efforts to promote more innovations in family and small scale agriculture was reaffirmed.

With respect to partnerships, Villalobos stated: “A topic that we have been pushing actively is being consolidated; we can see clearly the intention of the International Research Centers of the CGIAR to work more closely with the Institute, also of organizations that work in South-South cooperation to try to take advantage of IICA’s experience in Latin America and the Caribbean in order to promote agricultural innovation, for example, in African countries.”

With respect to private participation in research, extension, and innovation, he stated that this should be carried out with agribusinesses in mind. “If the private sector is not involved with rules and concrete objectives, we are not going to be able to advance”, he added.

At the GCARD2 Conference, IICA’s main argument was the privileged position that Latin America and the Caribbean are in to be a relevant part of the solution, rather than of the problem, in the challenge to achieve total food safety.

“This position was pointed out by the President of Uruguay himself, José Mujica, as well as by the Ministers of Agriculture in their forums. Furthermore, at the meeting of the Southern Livestock Council, the role of this region was clear as a supplier of raw materials, especially grains and meat products”, manifested Villalobos.

The Council was held parallel to GCARD2, in which the Institute participated. The Ministers were presented with a progress report on the outlook for agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean, prepared jointly with other technical agencies. A report on the environmental and economic benefits of cultivating genetically modified soybeans in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay was also announced.

Support for family agriculture

The need to support family agriculture was one of the topics of consensus at GCARD2, a point that was underscored by the Minister of Agriculture of Uruguay, Tabaré Aguerre.

“Building food security depends on the farmers of the world, both those involved in agribusinesses and those who support rural families”, Aguerre affirmed, during one of his interventions at the meeting.

IICA’s task in this area was also stated at the GCARD2. “It is a subject on which the Institute has a lot to say, with its examples of cooperation in Haiti, El Salvador and Argentina”, said Villalobos.

“The promotion of family agriculture is a clear measure that should be taken in order to provide food to the rural areas, and it is fundamental that women be empowered in this task”, he added.

For more information, contact: 
arturo.barrera@iica.int