IICA Conference

MINISTERS OF AFRICA AND THE AMERICAS TO HOLD FIRST SUMMIT TO ENHANCE COOPERATION ON AGRIFOOD ISSUES

From left to right: IICA Chair in Agribusiness Robert Rodrigues, Special Advisor to Director General Jorge Werthein, Dr. Rattan Lal, and IICA Director General Manuel Otero

Dr. Lal attended the Ministers of Africa and the Americas Summit in San Jose, Costa Rica this year, July 27 to 29. The summit emphasized the importance of collaborating continents in an effort to strengthen food security. With so many negative impacts affecting food security today because of conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic still ravaging the world 2 years later. The Russian and Ukrainian conflict has made global and market trade flow increasingly difficult and has increased food prices. The summit puts into place the “quality, relevance, and appropriateness” of the impact the two continents, as well as a global effort, on agriculture and food. The summit brought together leaders in the Agricultural community to identify how both continents can increase productivity, inclusion, and sustainability of Agrifood systems.

The focus of the Summit was on five key areas:

• Science, technology, and innovation, including biotechnology
• Climate change and resilience
• Digital agriculture
• Institutional innovations and policies for social inclusion, safety nets, health and nutrition and the recovery of degraded natural resources
• Fostering a more fair and transparent international food trade system.

https://www.nepad.org/news/ministers-of-africa-and-americas-convene-sum- mit-cooperation-counter-global-food-security