A gathering of leaders from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain, and the United States to build a shared vision for the future of the agri-food sector through science, technology, and innovation.
This workshop, organized by FONTAGRO, the University of Florida, and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), took place at the University of Florida in Gainesville from May 13 to 15, 2025. It brought together over 80 leaders, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, and directors of national agricultural research institutes from FONTAGRO’s 15 member countries, as well as U.S. partners. The workshop succeeded in gathering knowledge, facilitating exchange, and proposing joint actions for the short, medium, and long term.
Commitment to our 2025-2030
Strategic Plan
This event reaffirmed FONTAGRO’s commitment to investing in research, development, and innovation in the agri-food sector through the creation of public–private institutional ecosystems. During this strategic meeting, the design phase of FONTAGRO’s 2025-2030 Medium-Term Plan was launched in collaboration with leading institutions, including the University of Florida, Clemson University, Cornell University, North Carolina State University, The Ohio State University, the Meat Institute, ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas), the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank, IICA, CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean), Corteva Agriscience, Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology, Cajamar Group Foundation, Embrapa, the GAP Initiative at Virginia Tech, UF Innovate, FAO, among others.
The discussions focused on identifying priority areas and key trends in science and technology, and thus in future investment, both regionally and globally. As a result, FONTAGRO will consider the following Flagship Programs in its upcoming strategy:
This workshop laid the foundation for advancing toward a more innovative and sustainable agriculture. We warmly invite all stakeholders to continue contributing to this collective effort toward a resilient future, where every voice and idea helps shape the transformation of agriculture in Latin America, the Caribbean, the U.S., and the world.
Acknowledgments
We extend special thanks to the University of Florida, particularly its Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, and to all the institutions that made this event possible. We also thank the National Agricultural Research Institutes, represented by their directors: INTA Argentina, INIAF Bolivia, INIA Chile, AGROSAVIA Colombia, INTA Costa Rica, INIAP Ecuador, INIA Spain, DICTA Honduras, INTA Nicaragua, IDIAP Panama, IPTA Paraguay, INIA Peru, IDIAF Dominican Republic, INIA Uruguay, and INIA Venezuela.
About FONTAGRO
FONTAGRO was created in 1998 with the aim of increasing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources, and reducing poverty in the region. Its objective is to serve as a sustainable financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology and innovation in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain, and to provide a forum for the discussion of priority issues in technological innovation. Its member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Over the past 27 years, FONTAGRO has co-financed 204 regional innovation platforms totaling USD 150.7 million, reaching over 1,000 organizations and 35 countries around the world.
¡Together, we can cultivate a future full opportunity!
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Impact
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