Syngenta and IICA join forces to foster agricultural innovation in the Americas

San Jose, 7 July 2020 (IICA). Syngenta, a leading agricultural innovation company, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) signed a partnership to implement actions aimed at increasing farmers’ productivity in a sustainable manner and protecting food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The agreement was promoted by José Antonio Ysambert, Syngenta’s Business Sustainability Head for the Northern Region of Latin America, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

Syngenta will contribute its world-class scientific developments in crop protection and seed improvement, which it will implement in rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean together with IICA.

The organizations will work together to validate cutting-edge agricultural technologies, develop virtual courses, foster digital and precision agriculture, provide training in maximum residue limits, drive seed improvement, and implement projects that foster sustainable food production, with a focus on efficient soil and water management.

Syngenta and IICA will provide farmers with in-person and online training, as well as carry out initiatives of the Central American Program for Integrated Coffee Rust Management (PROCAGICA), implemented by the European Union and IICA.

“The private sector, Latin American and Caribbean countries, and cooperation agencies must work closely to develop Agriculture 4.0. This type of synergy is crucial in order to guarantee the well-being of people working in the field as well as the food and nutritional security of the entire population”, remarked Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

“The world is facing a tremendous challenge: producing more food for a growing population while also taking care of the environment. An essential component of the Good Growth Plan, Syngenta's sustainable agriculture project, is the establishment of strategic partnerships that can help us to reach more farmers. I am certain that, by working hand in hand with IICA, we will generate multiple benefits for farmers”, stated José Antonio Ysambert, Syngenta’s Business Sustainability Head for the Northern Region of Latin America.

Syngenta is one of the sponsors of a hackathon that is currently being organized, which will foster the development of technological solutions to strengthen the agrifood chain in Ecuador. Registration will be open until 24 July, at the following link: http://hackathon.iica.int/.

The hackathon will be hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Ecuador, IICA, Cenfotec University and Club AgTech, in addition to Syngenta.

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