From May 11 to 13, 2026, the XXI Meeting of the INIA System of Ibero-America took place, an event led by INIA-Spain and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), held at the AECID Training Center in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. During this important gathering, directors and representatives from the 15 member countries of FONTAGRO joined experts from agricultural research organizations, international institutions such as the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), CGIAR, CIP, IFPRI, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, among other national entities from the livestock sector, to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing sustainable livestock in the region.

Under the theme “Sustainable Livestock,” the event provided a valuable space for sharing experiences, advances, and research priorities, aiming to strengthen more sustainable, resilient, and innovative livestock systems. The meeting underscored the importance of exchanging knowledge and perspectives among research institutes in Ibero-America, seeking to improve beef production systems and build a collaborative roadmap for the future.

Additionally, global challenges related to investment and research in sustainable livestock were addressed, reaffirming the commitment of participating countries to more efficient and environmentally responsible production.

Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, presented a strategic approach to transform livestock in Latin America and the Caribbean, a sector that represents 46% of the region's agricultural GDP. During her speech, Saini highlighted the need for more productive and low-emission systems to meet the growing global demand for protein.

The presentation included a portfolio of FONTAGRO's strategic projects focused on livestock that promote the use of advanced technologies. These include satellite monitoring of biomass, enteric methane sensors, and AgTech platforms aimed at optimizing grazing management and reducing the environmental footprint. Saini emphasized FONTAGRO's approach to closing gaps in productivity and sustainability through science and collective action, validating innovations across diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon and the Andes to the Chaco and Patagonia, with the goal of strengthening food security and rural livelihoods in the region.

FONTAGRO's participation in this meeting reaffirms its commitment, alongside its members, to advance toward more sustainable and resilient livestock production, promoting rural development and food security throughout Ibero-America.

Learn more about this event here.