With IICA's support, FORAGRO renews and strengthens its commitment to science, technology and agricultural innovation in the Americas

San José, 14 October 2024 (IICA) - The Forum of the Americas for Agricultural Research and Technological Development (FORAGRO), whose technical secretariat is managed by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), will be revitalized and its commitment to science, technology, and innovation will be strengthened, in order to increase its effectiveness and address challenges and opportunities facing modern agriculture.
 
This was defined in a virtual assembly convened by IICA, which brought together prominent representatives from the agri-food sector, including national and international research institutes, cooperation organizations, the private sector, and farmers' organizations. In the assembly, a roadmap was set to revitalize FORAGRO and connect it with other global forums through regional initiatives.
 
The forum was created in 1997.
 
"FORAGRO should become the space that creates synergies, bringing together efforts by involving public, academic, private, and civil society actors to build collective agendas. This forum will allow us to move away from immediate concerns and focus on future challenges and the strategic alliances necessary to integrate the region into global discussions," said Manuel Otero, IICA’s Director General, during the assembly.
 
IICA launched a comprehensive proposal with three priorities for revitalizing the forum. The first priority is to anticipate scientific and technological trends that will shape the future of agriculture in the region, enabling better planning and taking advantage of emerging opportunities. Secondly, it aims to unite efforts and foster close collaboration in the region and with other international actors, acknowledging that today's challenges are shared and require joint solutions.
 
The third priority is to defend and position agricultural science, technology, and innovation in major international decision-making forums, ensuring that Latin America and the Caribbean are represented in global agendas.
 
"IICA has science and innovation in its DNA. We have committed to bringing all results generated by FORAGRO to the discussions of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA, which includes the Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas and the highest governing body of IICA), ensuring that these advancements are known, supported, and have a significant impact," Otero added.
 
Recognition and Support
 
Hildegard Lingnau, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum on Agricultural Innovation and Research (GFAiR), congratulated FORAGRO for its revitalization, highlighting its crucial role in establishing the Global Consortium of National Agricultural Research Systems and its interaction with other regional forums worldwide.
 
Joaquín Lozano, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at CGIAR, expressed enthusiasm for participating in the revitalization of FORAGRO, stating, "We are committed and excited to engage not only with the four CGIAR centers in the Americas but also with our global capacity to collaborate in the region and bring the Latin American and Caribbean perspective to international discussions."
 
The meeting, which included key institutions such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), and the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), among other relevant actors, also announced a face-to-face meeting in February 2025.
 
This event will follow up on the agreements reached during the virtual assembly and further strengthen the region's commitment to agricultural science, technology, and innovation.
 
The virtual assembly marked a significant step forward following the Regional Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation, held in May 2023. This was a joint initiative of IICA, CGIAR, and the World Bank, with participation from organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). This dialogue identified the need to balance productivity and sustainability goals in agri-food systems and highlighted the gaps in funding for innovation.

More information:
Muhammad Ibrahim, Director of Technical Cooperation at IICA and Executive Secretary of FORAGRO.
secretaria.foragro@iica.int