Since 2009, FONTAGRO and the Government of New Zealand, as part of its contribution to the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), have established a key partnership to promote resilient agriculture in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Over the years, they have co-financed more than 20 projects that foster science and innovation, aiming to strengthen the region’s agri-food systems and ensure efficient and sustainable responses to global challenges.
As part of this fruitful collaboration, FONTAGRO representatives visited New Zealand in February, where they held meetings with government entities, academic institutions, and the private sector. The delegation, led by FONTAGRO’s Vice President and President of INIA Peru, Jorge Ganoza, and FONTAGRO’s Executive Secretary, Eugenia Saini, took the opportunity to further strengthen cooperative ties during this official visit.
One of the key meetings was with Dr. Hon Nicola Grigg, Associate Minister of Agriculture of New Zealand, where discussions focused on food security and sustainability in agriculture, seeking synergies for collaborative projects that reinforce the shared commitment to improving and strengthening agri-food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The delegation also met with representatives from several universities, including the University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington, to explore collaborative research opportunities. These visits included demonstrations of robotics applied to agriculture, as well as discussions on plant and soil ecology, microbiology, biosensors, and artificial intelligence.
Finally, FONTAGRO representatives had the opportunity to engage with agri-food companies and local farmers. These exchanges provided valuable insights into sustainable agricultural practices and highlighted the importance of working with communities to implement innovative solutions.
FONTAGRO’s leadership concluded the visit by emphasizing the positive impact of this experience and the potential for new initiatives that integrate traditional crops and foods into future food systems.
These interactions not only strengthen the existing partnership but also open new pathways for knowledge exchange, which is vital in addressing the effects of climate change on agriculture. FONTAGRO reaffirms its commitment to driving agricultural innovation in the region, integrating ancestral knowledge and scientific advancements toward a more sustainable future.
For more information about this partnership, visit: https://digital.fontagro.org/en/nz-alc/
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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.