Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas to discuss productivity and sustainability

San José, July 20, 2015 (IICA). At the Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2015, set to be held from October 19-23 in Cancun, Mexico, the countries will focus their attention on ways of achieving competitive and sustainable agricultural productivity in the hemisphere, while at the same time promoting rural inclusion.

The slogan of the meeting is “Grow better, produce more, feed everyone.” The ministers of the 34 member countries of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and Spain will discuss proposals aimed at strengthening agriculture in LAC at a time when the sector faces major challenges, such as feeding the world’s growing population.

The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) of Mexico, and IICA will be responsible for organizing the meeting. The ministers’ discussions will be enriched by a document on agricultural productivity in the Americas, prepared by the two entities, and a technical forum on the subject with high-level international experts.

The coordinator of the report, the Institute’s Representative in the United States, Miguel García, says opportunities exist for making the Americas the next global breadbasket and reducing the inequalities between the agricultural sectors of countries in the region.

“Differences in agricultural productivity, access to technologies and international markets, and a number of other issues affect the countries and hinder regional integration, but there are opportunities for bridging those gaps and we should take advantage of them”, he argues.

According to García, one of those opportunities is investment in innovation.

The subject matter and details of the meeting were presented to IICA’s Executive Committee, which met in Costa Rica from 15-16 July.

The participants in the ministerial dialogue will include the Secretary of SAGARPA, Enrique Martínez y Martínez, and the Director General of IICA, Víctor M. Villalobos. Also expected to take part are the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, and the country’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade Kuribreña.

The Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA) will also be meeting during the event. Comprised of the ministers of agriculture of IICA’s member countries, the Board is the Institute’s highest-level governing body. The ministers will discuss mechanisms for the technical and financial strengthening of the organization.

More information:
evangelina.beltran@iica.int