Montevideo, 20 October de 2025 (IICA) – The Cooperative Program for the Technological Development of Agrifood and Agro-Industry in the Southern Cone (PROCISUR) is celebrating 45 years as a strategic regional cooperation platform among the National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, together with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
Currently, PROCISUR brings together more than 6,700 researchers and supports over 2,100 research projects, 200 germplasm banks and 1,530 units distributed throughout the region, positioning it as one of the most robust platforms in the sector.
Since its creation in 1980, PROCISUR has promoted science, technology and innovation as fundamental pillars for the sustainable and inclusive development of the region’s agri-food systems, fostering and strengthening capacities, and generating inputs for decision-makers.
Regional impact with global projection
Over these four and a half decades, PROCISUR has led a research, development and innovation (R+D+i) agenda, adapting to and anticipating major global challenges such as food and nutrition security, environmental sustainability, climate change, digital transformation and new technologies, globalization and international markets, and social inclusion.
Throughout this journey, it has generated more than 1,000 initiatives and projects through public-private partnerships across the region and the world, strengthening institutional capacities through technical cooperation, human capital development and the mobilization of resources and investment.
The Program maintains a forward-looking roadmap that accelerates the adoption of solutions in strategic areas for the region, including animal health and phytosanitary intelligence under the One Health approach; biotechnology; bioeconomy and bioinputs; soils, water and forests; digitalization and new technologies; climate-smart livestock; and family farming.
At the same time, PROCISUR provides institutional support for NARIs through horizontal cooperation in training, knowledge management, shared standards and technical exchange platforms—thus consolidating an effective bridge between science, policy and the territory.
Looking ahead, the Program focuses its actions around four strategic lines: sustainable intensification, climate change, family farming and institutional development. These priorities are addressed from a territorial perspective, ensuring economic, social and environmental sustainability, and reaffirming its commitment to equity and inclusion.
One of PROCISUR’s key pillars is the generation of inputs for public policies, as well as active coordination with regional spaces such as the Southern Agricultural Council (CAS) and its support bodies.
“We continue building a science-based future”, the Program reaffirms, convinced that regional cooperation is the path to positioning the Southern Cone as a global benchmark in sustainable agri-food innovation, with strong anticipatory capacity, responsiveness and strategic leadership.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
