At a virtual forum, IICA and the private sector address agricultural and food security challenges and strengthen cooperation for sustainable development

San José, 18 June 2024 (IICA) - Representatives from companies operating across the continent debated with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) about the challenges facing the sector and agreed that only joint efforts between the public and private sectors will allow these challenges to be successfully addressed.

During the meeting, which was held virtually, discussions focused on issues related to food and nutritional security, the use of new technologies, trade, soil health, and consumer relations.

The companies, involved in food production and producer services, reaffirmed their commitment to promoting collective action alongside IICA and working towards the availability of tools to make smallholder farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean more productive and resilient.

The meeting was led by IICA Director General Manuel Otero and Deputy Director General Lloyd Day. It served to reinforce the partnerships between this agricultural development organization of the Inter-American system and the private sector, which are essential for fostering greater investment in research, development, and innovation and advancing toward the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

IICA aims to serve as a bridge between the ministries of agriculture in the Americas, their constituents, and the private sector. This model has been successfully developed in various initiatives supported by the private sector, such as the Living Soils of the Americas project, the Center for Interpretation of Tomorrow’s Agriculture (CIMAG), an innovation space at IICA’s headquarters, and the Alliance Against Fusarium TR4, a pest that attacks banana crops and has become a threat to food security.

Benefits for the region

"For Bayer, it has been very important to collaborate with IICA on various projects," said Ronald Guendel of Bayer, who affirmed that the company is fully committed to empowering 100 million small-scale producers by 2030.

"All efforts made by private sector companies to improve welfare in rural areas and connect with smallholder farmers will benefit the region," Guendel asserted, also considering public-private collaboration essential for promoting innovation in agriculture and free trade of food.

"The alliance we have with IICA is possible and successful because our visions are aligned," stated José Perdomo of Croplife, who emphasized the need to deepen farmer training in utilizing new technologies and constructing a new narrative that highlights agriculture's central role in food security and in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Esteban Turic, CEO of Biogenesis Bagó, a leading animal health company, discussed the need to advance livestock productivity. "When comparing countries in South America with developed nations, we are 20 points lower in terms of dairy productivity and 30 to 40 points below in meat production," he asserted. Turic highlighted the region's need to access the necessary technologies in nutrition, health, and genetics to reach the productivity frontier of developed countries and make a more significant contribution to food security. "The major task ahead is to promote greater adoption of technologies, which also requires training and extension services to increase productivity without needing to increase the number of heads of cattle," he explained.

Patricia Toledo of Syngenta stated that the world will not achieve the goal of eradicating hunger by 2030 without increasing agricultural productivity by at least 28%. "As representatives of the private sector, we have decided to join efforts to make a contribution," she affirmed, pointing out that her company focuses on promoting regenerative agricultural practices, such as carbon sequestration in soils and biodiversity preservation, as well as innovation, training, and the empowerment of rural women.

María Nelly Rivas of Cargill underscored IICA's dual role in ensuring the continent has a voice in global forums discussing agricultural and environmental issues, as well as facilitating access for small producers to tools that enhance their competitiveness. "We see IICA as a partner in public policies and specific programs for farmers in the countries," she noted.

Aintzane Esturo represented the International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association (IFU), underscoring Latin America's significant role as a juice producer. "The juice industry is fully committed to sustainability and nutritional aspects. Producing juices is a way to make food available to people," she stated.

"I see the evolution of IICA and how its participation in different areas has grown. It's quite remarkable," said Jesse Sevcik of Elanco, emphasizing the importance of IICA's presence at United Nations Climate Change Conferences and advocating for the Institute’s continued participation in the upcoming COP 29 and COP 30 to communicate clear messages on sustainable agriculture and biodiversity protection in the region.

Christian Gómez of Walmart also valued IICA's role as a bridge between the private sector and regional governments, and described the company's projects in Latin American countries aimed at purchasing more products from small farmers, facilitating the transition of producers from the informal to formal sector, and empowering women.

"IICA is transforming and understands that sustainable development and improved quality of life for rural populations are only achievable with the participation of the private sector," stated Manuel Otero, highlighting that the organization has reached 638 cooperation agreements with the private sector and civil society organizations since 2018 and has nearly 500 partners.

"It seems that our 17 million producers are the adjustment variable whenever there are uncertainties or volatility in the international scenario. Instead, they must be the recipients of our greatest efforts, as each time a farmer is forced to leave rural areas for the city, there is a setback," he concluded.

The Director General of IICA referred to the role of science as a fundamental input in generating new public policies and considered that cooperation today means action and is the result of coordinated work between the public and private sectors. "IICA acts as a bridge among different actors and is a unifying element, with the premise that we have to achieve more with fewer resources and with farmers at the center of decisions."

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