Sustainability, food security, climate change and innovation: the focus of the dialogue between Chile’s new Minister of Agriculture and IICA’s Director General

San Jose, 3 February 2021 (IICA). Sustainability, water efficiency, climate change, rural development with innovative approaches, food security and partnerships. These issues, which are crucial for the comprehensive development of rural areas, were the focus of a virtual dialogue between the new Minister of Agriculture of Chile, María Emilia Undurraga, and the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), Manuel Otero.

“We had a fruitful meeting, which focused on highlighting the areas of work that we will undertake together with IICA. We also identified short and medium-term challenges. It was a very valuable opportunity to develop a clear road map based on the current context of the agriculture sector in Chile and the region”, remarked Minister Undurraga.

“We want to bolster IICA’s role as a forum that fosters the development of sectoral public policies, applying new technologies that are aligned with the challenges facing the sector. We value these types of organizations because we can further benefit rural development by working together, adopting a comprehensive approach that is in keeping with the guidelines at the Ministry and IICA. Ultimately, all of us who are gathered here today are working to improve the quality of life of families living in rural areas”, she added.

Otero, on the other hand, underscored IICA’s commitment towards and participation in Chile’s agrifood sustainability strategies and emphasized the Institute’s attention to countries’ new demands for cooperation, including through innovative responses ranging from digital technology to possibilities afforded by fire detection systems and low-cost weather stations.

“Innovation is part of IICA’s DNA. We want to honor our commitments to the Ministry of Agriculture of Chile by sharing more and more successful experiences in all of the areas that are of interest to Minister Undurraga, as we deepen our contributions for the benefit of Chilean rural development”, stated the Director General of IICA.

The meeting provided an opportunity to highlight IICA’s work with the Ministry of Agriculture, such as that which has been carried out within the framework of the strategies outlined in the National Rural Development Policy and Plan Impulso Araucanía to strengthen family farming and increase its market access through innovation, varietal replacement, water efficiency and integrated crop management.

Also discussed was the technical support provided to ODEPA as part of the participatory process that has been underway since the beginning of the year in Chile’s 16 regions to develop the Agrifood Sustainability Strategy, together with the Regional Ministerial Secretariats of Agriculture and other bodies involved in Chilean agrifood issues. The Minister and the Director General also commented on training activities related to associative undertakings and marketing that have been carried out, as well as efforts related to water efficiency and Agriculture 4.0.

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