In a global context where food security and agriculture are of utmost importance, Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and Laura Suazo, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Honduras, participated in the prestigious Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, an annual event that brings together leaders and experts from around the world to address the most pressing challenges in the fight against hunger.

The Borlaug Dialogue, known for its collaborative and multidisciplinary approach, took place over three days (October 28^th, 29^th, and 30^th), bringing together more than 1,000 attendees from 65 countries. This high-level event is globally recognized for its ability to convene experts in development, agriculture, economic policy, and nutrition, all driven by the legacy of Norman Borlaug, known as the father of modern agriculture and for the accomplishments of World Food Prize laureates.

During this important event, under the theme: “Seeds of opportunity: uniting generations and cultivating diplomacy,” discussions addressed critical issues affecting food production and distribution, including climate change, water security, agriculture in space, artificial intelligence applied to agri-food systems, nutrition, health, and trade. All this while integrating the wisdom of the past, current innovations, and the pressing needs of tomorrow.

The “conversation” format of the Borlaug Dialogue allowed global leaders to exchange ideas, explore new approaches, and project strategies to tackle the global food crisis. The presence of organizations such as IICA and FONTAGRO at the Borlaug Dialogue demonstrates their commitment to promoting innovative and effective initiatives to improve food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.

For more information on the 2024 Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue, visit: https://www.worldfoodprize.org/en/events/borlaug_dialogue/norman_e_borlaug_international_dialogue/

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About FONTAGRO

FONTAGRO was created 1998 with the purpose of promoting the increase of the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and the reduction of poverty in the region. The objective of FONTAGRO is to establish itself as a sustainable financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean and Spain, and to establish a forum for the discussion of priority topics of technological innovation. The member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the last 27 years 204 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 150.7 million, which has reached 531 institutions and 35 countries worldwide.