| San Jose, 4 August 2022 (IICA) – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Spanish company, Agbar Agriculture, signed a technical cooperation agreement to foster the development of joint initiatives and projects in relation to smart and sustainable water resource management in the agriculture sector of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). The initiative will have an initial four-year duration and its primary objective will be to optimize water use, by improving processes, as well as to identify alternative resources to be implemented in countries in the region selected by both organizations. The agreement will prioritize cooperation areas such as natural resource management, climate change and the bioeconomy; rural development, productivity and competitiveness; information technology and social innovation. The Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero and the Agbar Chairman, Ángel Simón signed the agreement in an official virtual ceremony, which was also attended by Alexandre Barbosa, CEO of B2 International Consulting, who was instrumental in strengthening linkages between IICA and Agbar and will be involved in the formulation of joint products. The head of the hemispheric agricultural and rural development organization remarked that, “The most important aspect of the agreement is what we do tomorrow and how we translate it into actions and projects that will eventually improve the standard of living of people in our region and the world. We are experiencing serious water stress problems. Now is the time to move from diagnosis to action and to translate this into strategic projects, ever mindful of the human face of the agriculture sector and the fact that it should be seen as part of the solution”. On the other hand, Ángel Simón indicated that, “In view of current global challenges, such as climate change and water scarcity that are seriously affecting agricultural activity, Agbar is looking to partnerships and technological innovation to optimize water use efficiency and the sustainability of the sector. We believe in the agriculture of the future, aiming to accelerate the ecological transition and to improve the quality of life of people”. Under the partnership, the two entities will exchange experiences and knowledge, offer direct consultancy services and provide technical and scientific input, among others activities, in preparing and implementing projects related to the main objective of the agreement. |
| About IICAIICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence. |
| About Agbar AgricultureAgbar Agriculture is a member of the Agbar Group of companies – an industry leader that boasts a history of more than 150 years. Agbar provides environmental services and solutions, such as integrated water cycle management and treatment, waste recycling, efficient energy use, as well as the implementation of circular economy and decarbonization models for cities, industry and agriculture. The company supports and advises agricultural entrepreneurs in tackling challenges in the sector and improving the profitability of their holdings, by providing integrated solutions that improve cultivation systems, while ensuring more efficient water and energy use. It also has extensive experience in the sector and offers high value-added solutions to produce more and more efficiently, at a lower cost and with less environmental impact. |
| More information: Institutional Communication Division. comunicacion.institucional@iica.int |
