Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Agricultural Health Agriculture Family farming Food and nutrition security Food safety Rural development

PAHO and IICA to support food safety, food security, and One Health projects in the Americas

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

The entities have worked together since 1983 and renewed their alliance to promote actions related to the protection of animal, environmental and human health.

El acuerdo fue firmado por la Directora de la OPS, Carissa Etienne, y el Director General del IICA, Manuel Otero.

San Jose, 30 August 2021 (IICA). The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will work together to support the countries of the Americas in improving the health and prosperity of rural areas, thereby benefiting the region’s economies.

Priority work areas include One Health and management mechanisms related to food safety programs, antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases.

The agreement was signed by Carissa Etienne, PAHO Director, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

“We signed this agreement to work together against hunger and disease, to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of the Americas. The current times demand our best efforts to ensure the countries stay committed to their development agendas and address the problems threatening health and agriculture”, stated Etienne.

“The One Health policy guides the countries in the actions they must take based on the experience of the actors involved. We’re convinced that we can navigate these challenges only if the health and agriculture sectors work together”, she added.

Manuel Otero expressed that joining forces is essential to tackle the current challenges. He explained that the topic will be discussed on 1-2 September in the framework of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2021 organized by IICA, at which they will analyze the environmental, social and economic challenges facing the agri-food systems in anticipation of the UN Summit.

“We are going to decide on concrete actions for the many issues we have in common. Both of our institutions work for the well-being of the people: the PAHO from a health standpoint and us from agricultural and rural development, under the philosophy of health focused on animal, environmental and human health”, stated Otero.

In 1983, PAHO and IICA signed a permanent general cooperation agreement that has been updated several times in last 19 years based on the challenges and concerns shared by the agencies.

The common objectives are to contribute to increasing and improving production, health and rural life in the member states of both entities within the Inter-American System.

Following the most recent renewal of the alliance, actions will be aimed at promoting implementation of a culture of effective policies, regulations and programs on food health in the countries of the Americas, including Codex Alimentarius, and exchanging information and experiences on food-related risk analysis.

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

 

Share

Related news​

Ribeirao Preto, Brasil

June 27, 2025

At the IFAMA World Conference, IICA Director General underscored the need to build a new narrative for agriculture to be recognized as essential for solutions to planetary challenges

The Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero, participated in Brazil in one of the largest global conferences in the agricultural sector, IFAMA, where he emphasized the need to build a new narrative highlighting the essential role of agriculture in the Americas as part of the solution to the challenges facing humanity.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Montreal, Canadá

June 26, 2025

Countries of the Americas positioned themselves as global suppliers of sustainable aviation fuels at key industry event held in Montreal

The Pan American Coalition on Liquid Biofuels (CPBIO) had a prominent role at the Aviation Climate Week of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), held in Montreal (Canada), with the participation of leading actors in the sector who discussed the latest developments in environmental matters.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Brasilia, Brazil

June 25, 2025

IICA strengthens its partnership with EMBRAPA and is set to install its Home of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas pavilion in the “AgriZone” at COP30

During the meeting, the senior EMBRAPA and IICA officials also exchanged ideas on how to deepen reciprocal collaboration at the international level, with a focus on cooperation with countries in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins