The suggestions arose during a virtual meeting, organized by IICA, where they stressed the need to maintain the flow of trade; avoid protectionism and to move toward agricultural digitalization.

Rebeca Grynspan, Ibero-American Secretary General, and Cassio Luiselli, member of the Advisory Council for Food Security in the Americas, shared their impressions during the Fortieth Regular Meeting of the Executive Committee of IICA.

The Ministers of Agriculture of Barbados, Costa Rica and Chile, the administrator of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (representing Secretary Sonny Perdue), and the US Ambassador to the UN agencies in Rome participated in the ceremony, in which IICA lauded the Ohio University professor.

Gilberto Gil, Erika Ender, Teresa Parodi, Grupo Jayac and Mistah Dale were bestowed with the Artists and Friends of IICA certificate for their role in a tribute to those who are ensuring the food supply during the pandemic. President of Costa Rica, Carlos Alvarado, participated in the virtual ceremony.

Concern was expressed by production sector representatives in an international seminar organized by IICA and GPS, in collaboration with CIARA-CEC and other agricultural and trade promotion organizations.

The preliminary data, which correspond to April and May, confirm the fact that agriculture will be one of the driving forces for economic recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic.