The FONTAGRO Board of Directors is pleased to extend its warmest congratulations to the new Director General of IICA, Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, who was elected on November 4 by the Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas during the 23rd Regular Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (JIA), the highest governing body of IICA. The meeting took place in Brasilia and was organized by the Brazilian government alongside the hemispheric organization.

Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim is a recognized Guyanese agricultural professional with over 35 years of experience in international institutions, such as the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) and IICA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with honors from the University of Guyana, a Master's in Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences from CATIE, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences from Wageningen University. In addition to his solid academic background, he is a distinguished professor, researcher, and prolific author on topics related to agriculture, agroecology, silvopastoral systems, food security, and payments for ecosystem services in Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are confident that Dr. Ibrahim, with his extensive experience, will play a crucial role in strengthening science, technology, and innovation within the agri-food sector of the Americas, particularly for FONTAGRO. We wish him the utmost success in this important endeavor.

FONTAGRO recognizes the significance of IICA as a strategic partner and key sponsor in our efforts to promote agricultural and agri-food development in the Americas. We also express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Manuel Otero, the outgoing director, for his invaluable dedication and commitment, which have been essential in fostering innovation and sustainability in the agricultural sector of Latin America and the Caribbean.

We are excited about the opportunities that this new leadership will bring and are confident that, by working together, we will continue to move towards a more sustainable future for agriculture in the region.

IICA has established itself as a strategic and indispensable partner for FONTAGRO, enhancing its impact on the promotion of science, technology, and innovation in the region. This alliance has been key to the implementation of 32 regional and international projects, representing an investment of US$ 23,059,213 aimed at transforming the agri-food systems of LAC. Through this collaborative effort, FONTAGRO and IICA have promoted evidence-based policies and innovative technological solutions that address challenges related to food security, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion, significantly contributing to the sustainable and resilient development of LAC.

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