During the recent conference on the challenges of scientific research for agriculture and food security, led by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation in partnership with Peru’s National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the member entities of the National Network for the Dissemination of Agricultural Information (Rediagro), Dr. Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, highlighted the essential role that innovation plays in agricultural research and how it is fundamental to addressing the region’s growing food security needs.
Dr. Saini began her remarks by emphasizing the importance of FONTAGRO’s funding to support innovative agricultural research projects. “Investment in innovation and technology is key to achieving sustainable agriculture and improving food security in Latin America,” she stated. In her presentation, she shared concrete examples of how funded projects have led to the development of more resilient and sustainable crop varieties, as well as farming practices that promote agrobiodiversity.
She also addressed the challenges facing the region, such as climate variability and the need to integrate biological inputs into agriculture. “In a context where the climate crisis is dramatically impacting our agricultural practices, it is vital that research is directed toward adaptive solutions that include sustainable technologies,” she noted.
Dr. Saini acknowledged the growing demand for sustainable agricultural products and the importance of collaboration among researchers, producers, and international organizations to build more resilient food systems. “Empowering producers through innovative partnerships and providing access to new technologies is crucial for advancing agricultural competitiveness,” she added.
She concluded by reaffirming FONTAGRO’s commitment to continuing its collaboration with institutions and governments to promote research that effectively addresses the current challenges facing agriculture. The conference closed with a call to action for all stakeholders to work together in pursuit of a more secure and sustainable agricultural future for Latin America and the world.
To view a recording of this conference, visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/PdIAksl-rIc?si=b5KNIgc-rru4iu5Q
***
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.