Experts highlight the role of science and technology in agriculture in America

American agriculture

San Jose, November 2 (EFE). Specialists gathered at an international forum on Tuesday highlighting the importance of science and technology to transform America’s agri-food systems toward sustainability.

“Today there is a consensus on the importance of science and technology in taking new paths towards greener, more inclusive and resilient agriculture. We are facing a historic opportunity,” said the Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture, Manuel Otero.

This issue was discussed in a panel discussion entitled “The Challenges of Science, Agriculture and Food to 2030: How to Encourage Investment in Scientific Research and Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean?” , which was actually held within the framework of the 25th annual meeting of the Governing Council Committee of the Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology (FONTAGRO).

Otero noted that this year the countries of the Americas have reached a consensus on the direction in which the transformation of agri-food systems should take, and stressed that in terms of science and technology, the region agrees that it constitutes a bridge towards precision agriculture, to the bio-economy, to the circular economy and to reducing Food waste.

We can’t keep ordering just states. International cooperation organizations, civil society and the private sector must bear their responsibility, because no single institution will save the world. And we all have to make it through innovation that clear and effective responses are made for the future of agri-food systems,” said Otero.

Forum specialists agreed that governments, the private sector, civil society organizations and international organizations must work in concert to promote investment in science and technology that transforms agri-food systems and makes them more sustainable.

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Investments in science, research and technology are critical to addressing the interconnected and growing global challenges, which are bringing together food systems in crisis and biodiversity loss, said Executive Director of the Biodiversity Alliance-CIAT for the Americas, Jesus Quintana Garcia.

In addition, he insisted that robust systems for measuring outcomes are needed and that nutrition, environmental degradation and climate change are associated challenges that must be met with greater investment.

“We must defend the critical role of science and research to transform food systems with an emphasis on innovation and creative and modern solutions,” he said.

The event was also attended by the Director of the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank, Juan Pablo Bonilla. versity-CIAT; Agricultural Adviser for Latin America at the New Zealand Department of Primary Industries, Terry Mickley; Special Representative of the Global Greenhouse Gas Research Alliance in Agriculture (GRA), Hayden Montgomery, and FAO Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Giulio Berdigy.

Aileen Morales

"Beer nerd. Food fanatic. Alcohol scholar. Tv practitioner. Writer. Troublemaker. Falls down a lot."

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