“Leader of Rurality” Mexican agronomist to promote projects for small-scale rural farmers together with IICA

Querétaro, Mexico, 13 October 2021 (IICA). The Center for Innovation on Small-Scale Sustainable Agriculture (CIASPE), led by Mexican agronomist Gabriela Lucas Deecke, who was recently recognized as a “Leader of Rurality”, will work together with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) to promote projects for small-scale rural producers that can contribute to improving productivity and disseminating good agricultural practices for sustainable production.

CIASPE is an organization aimed at strengthening the self-management capabilities and resilience of small-scale farmers, with special emphasis on women. During a visit to the Center located in Querétaro, Diego Montenegro, IICA Representative in Mexico, and Lucas Deecke, founder of CIASPE, agreed to launch the initiative, as part of a commitment to jointly promote projects aimed at fostering biodiversity through sustainable techniques.

The purpose of the CIASPE-IICA partnership will be to assist small-scale producers who require projects and best practices to improve soils and boost the food security and income of their communities. To this end, the Center and Institute will capitalize on digital media, such as the platform of IICA’s Center for Knowledge Management and Horizontal Cooperation Services, which offers the largest repository of specialized courses on agricultural issues in the Americas.

“Climate change poses new challenges for small-scale producers, so rural families must be resilient in order to sustainably produce their food, which will only be possible through capacity building”, remarked Lucas Deecke.

This year, the Mexican agronomist received the “Soul of Rurality” award, bestowed on noteworthy Leaders of Rurality in the Americas by IICA. The award is part of an initiative by the specialized agency in rural and agricultural development to recognize the men and women who are leaving their mark and making a difference in the rural areas of the Americas.

“Strengthening the capacities of food producers is important because it helps to reverse poverty, drive sustainable food production and advance towards food security”, explained Diego Montenegro.

More information:
José Ayala, Technical Coordinator of the IICA Delegation in Mexico.
jose.ayala@iica.int