Investment and transfer of knowledge: Key elements for innovation in agriculture
San José, Costa Rica, October 20, 2011 (IICA). Why is Brazil a world leader in agricultural innovation? One answer to this question is that, around 40 years ago, this country decided to invest resources in research and development of new agricultural technologies, a decision that it has maintained until today, allocating nearly 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to this task.
The Brazilian model and opportunities for implementing it elsewhere in Latin America and the Caribbean were analyzed at the Forum: Innovation for competitive, sustainable and inclusive agriculture, held on October 20, in the context of the Meeting of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2011.
The event took place in San Jose, Costa Rica, organized jointly by the Costa Rican government and IICA. It was attended by delegates of the Member States of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation for Agriculture (IICA) and authorities of international technical and financial cooperation organizations, such as FAO, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
Representatives of the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and of the Brazilian Agricultural research Corporation (EMBRAPA) also participated.
According to the Director General of IICA, Victor M. Villalobos, the presence of these organizations at the ministerial meeting is aimed at promoting strategic partnerships in order to take advantage of the experience of countries like Brazil, and apply this throughout the hemisphere.
Villalobos offered IICA as the bridge par excellence for South-South cooperation, in line with the demands of its member countries.
Hugo Beteta, Director of ECLAC’s Subregional Headquarters in Mexico, emphasized that Brazil is now the world’s third recipient of direct foreign investment in agriculture. This is because it has taken advantage of the opportunities that have arisen by adopting long-term development strategies.
He added that the hemisphere has great potential to promote innovation in agriculture, since it possesses vast natural resources and technical capabilities, one-third of the world’s freshwater resources and 20% of the planet’s forests.
According to Ruben Echeverria, Director General of CIAT, although there are opportunities for innovation in the field, it is also possible to innovate in institutions and in public policies. “Brazil’s decision to invest in agriculture was not taken by scientists, but by the government, which many years ago tried to turn the country into an agricultural exporter.”
Elsio Guimaraes, representative of CIAT, added that “Colombia has recently decided to do the same, so that in five or ten years’ time it will see the positive results of increasing investment in agricultural innovation.”
Leader in the region
Brazil’s role as the leading seedbed for regional innovation is largely executed through EMBRAPA. According to its President, Pedro Arraes, since the creation of this institution (founded in 1973), the country has increased production by 158% through investment in research, combined with an increase in the area under production.
“Brazil supports South-South integration. The goal is to increase innovation in agriculture, by creating and consolidating partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean,” Arraes explained.
He added that EMBRAPA will launch a cooperation program in November, focusing on the areas of improving resource management, institutional strengthening and technologies for increasing productivity.
According to Hector Malarín, head of EMBRAPA’s Division of Environment, Rural Development and Risks from Disasters, the IDB will implement a similar initiative, aimed at improving the region’s food security.
“The challenge still pending in Latin America is that the strong growth of the agricultural sector in recent years, especially of prices, has not permeated the rural territories, given that 55% of this population is poor,” he said.
The ministerial meeting will conclude on October 21, when IICA and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will unveil the scope of their strategic alliance. Furthermore, together with ECLAC, the three agencies will launch a new report on the status of and outlook for agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean.
For further information:
patricia.leon@iica.int
rbrenes@mag.go.cr