The investment is focused on tackling urgent threats and making agri-food systems more sustainable and innovative.
San José, Costa Rica, 12 June 2025 (IICA). Faced with an increasingly challenging global scenario as far as agri-food production is concerned, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is making great strides in implementing the Hemispheric Fund for Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (FoHRSA), an initiative requested by the ministers of agriculture of the countries of the Americas.
As a first concrete step, six strategic projects have been approved involving an initial investment of USD 2,000,000 in startup capital provided by IICA. The purpose of the investment is to respond to urgent threats and strengthen sustainability and innovation in agri-food systems.
The projects address several key priorities:
- Agroforestry firefighters of the Americas: support for the efforts of rural communities in Central and South America to prevent and respond to wildfires, a growing threat exacerbated by extreme droughts.
- Protection of livestock farming in Central America and Mexico: a coordinated response to New World screwworm, a pest that poses a risk to animal health and the livelihoods of thousands of producers.
- Sustainability of sugarcane production in Belize: technical and productive solutions to mitigate the effects of the Fusarium fungus, a key action to preserve an industry vital to the country’s economy and food security.
- Sustainable biofuels for use in aviation: promotion of the development of the sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) market as a means to decarbonize air transport in the region.
- Integrated water resource management in Chile and Argentina: design of efficient water use plans and technologies, along with governance and investment strategies.
- Quality seeds for the Caribbean: strengthening of food security in the face of disasters through a robust system for producing and providing access to seeds, accompanied by training, partnerships, and innovative financial mechanisms.
With these actions, the FoHRSA fund is positioning itself as an innovative regional financing mechanism that channels resources toward transformative solutions that promote climate adaptation, sustainable production, and agri-food resilience.
FoHRSA is consolidating its position as an innovative regional mechanism, channeling resources toward transformative solutions that boost climate adaptation, sustainable production, and agri-food resilience.
Through its Technical Assistance Facility, the fund provides specialized support for the adoption of technologies, risk reduction, and capacity building in rural territories. The Business Assistance Facility will open up new opportunities by working with partners in the agribusiness sector to promote investments in emerging areas such as sustainable biofuels.
“IICA’s commitment to sustainable and resilient agriculture is unwavering. The countries require concrete solutions, and working with our partners, we are fulfilling the mandate of our ministers of agriculture with visible actions through FoHRSA,” remarked IICA Director General Manuel Otero.
Thus, with the support of governments, international organizations, and the private sector, FoHRSA is forging ahead as a model of effective cooperation and intelligent financing to transform agriculture in the Americas.
Visit: www.fohrsa.iica.int
Additional information
Federico Sancho
federico.sancho@iica.int
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
