Participating in the launch event were Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and current Chair of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM); Rattan Lal, recipient of the 2020 World Food Prize; Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA; as well as ministers of Agriculture of several African countries, AGRA authorities, private sector representatives, and other senior agricultural officials of the Americas and Africa.

The Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras, Laura Suazo, presented the 2023-2043 State Policy for the Agrifood Sector (PESAH), which will provide a roadmap to achieve the sustainable development of a key sector for the country. The Secretary recognized the technical support and contributions of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), which was represented at the launch event by its Director General, Manuel Otero.

Ambassadors and other diplomats from Latin American and Caribbean countries, European Union’s , Canada and Spain stationed in Costa Rica took part in a field trip during which they visited agricultural enterprises that receive technical assistance from the Tropical Agriculture Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The assistance is targeted at innovations in food production and rural energy, with a focus on family farming, territorial rootedness, food security, and job creation in rural areas.

According to a new special report by the agencies, the cost of inaction on hunger and food insecurity represents an average of 6.4% of the GDP of the countries studied.

IICA and FARA, Africa’s principal agricultural research forum, signed an agreement on joint work that will foster closer links between the agricultural authorities of that continent and Latin America and the Caribbean.

At the meeting, the leaders had numerous opportunities to talk about their everyday work environment and pinpoint common aspects shared with fellow honorees.