In an inspiring event that brought together international thought leaders, government agencies, and civil society representatives, FONTAGRO had the privilege of participating in COP16, held in Cali, Colombia, on October 31st. During an academic session, Digital Communication Specialist Michael Hernández attended two discussions focused on “best business practices in biodiversity conservation and restoration” and “bridging the gaps between biological wealth and socio-environmental vulnerability.”
The event provided an invaluable platform to address the challenges facing biodiversity in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the opportunities for building a sustainable future. During the sessions, emphasis was placed on the importance of biomimicry—a crucial approach that designs solutions inspired by natural processes, adapting business models to new environmental realities.
The discussions also highlighted the importance of integrating communities with academia, promoting the recognition of ancestral knowledge, and expanding access to higher education and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) training in vulnerable regions to empower future generations. Cooperation among communities, governments, and academia is essential, particularly when it comes to strengthening cultural identity and skills in biodiversity conservation and improving the region’s agri-food systems.
A standout feature of COP16 was the tour of the Green Zone, a space encouraging active civil society participation in protecting biological diversity. “I am very proud and honored to work in an organization like FONTAGRO, which is dedicated not only to biodiversity conservation but also to the development and improvement of the agri-food systems in our region, unique in the world,” Michael remarked during the tour.
FONTAGRO’s participation in COP16 reaffirms its commitment to fostering collaborative spaces that support building a more sustainable and equitable future, where innovation and knowledge are essential for conserving natural resources.
Learn more about COP16 on its official site:
https://www.cop16colombia.com/es/en/
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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 21 years 167 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 124 million, which has reached 452 institutions and 33 countries worldwide.