IICA Archives - Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) 2021

IICA looks forward to Caribbean Week of Agriculture

agriculture, Climate change, Food Security, Food Systems, News #CWA2021, African Swine Fever, agriculture, climate resilience, CWA, IICA, Lloyd Day, SPS

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) recognises the importance of the Caribbean Week of Agriculture (CWA) as the leading event on the region’s agricultural calendar and welcomes the opportunities the event presents to create strategic partnerships.

As preparations heighten for the hosting of the event 4 – 8 October 2021, under the theme ‘Transforming our Food Systems’, IICA Deputy Director, Mr. Lloyd Day highlighted the role his organization is playing in the virtual event. The organisation, which conceptualised the CWA and has been a key partner from its inception in 1999 is providing logistical, financial and technical support. In addition, IICA will host a number of webinars, for example, on African Swine Fever, sanitary and phyto-sanitary compliance and climate resilience.

Listen as Mr. Day talks about the importance of the week of activities:

PAHO, IICA To Support Food Safety, Food Security, And One Health Projects In The Americas

agriculture, Food Security, Food Systems, News, Sustainable Development Goals agri-food systems, agriculture, antimicrobial resistance, food health, food safety programmes, IICA, PAHO, zoonotic diseases

*The agreement was signed by Carissa Etienne (l), PAHO Director, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.*

(Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture Press Release) The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will work together to support the countries of the Americas in improving the health and prosperity of rural areas, thereby benefiting the region’s economies.

Priority work areas include One Health and management mechanisms related to food safety programs, antimicrobial resistance and zoonotic diseases.

The agreement was signed by Carissa Etienne, PAHO Director, and Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA.

“We signed this agreement to work together against hunger and disease, to safeguard the health and well-being of the people of the Americas. The current times demand our best efforts to ensure the countries stay committed to their development agendas and address the problems threatening health and agriculture”, stated Etienne.

“The One Health policy guides the countries in the actions they must take based on the experience of the actors involved. We’re convinced that we can navigate these challenges only if the health and agriculture sectors work together”, she added.

Manuel Otero expressed that joining forces is essential to tackle the current challenges. He explained that the topic will be discussed on 1-2 September in the framework of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2021 organized by IICA, at which they will analyse the environmental, social and economic challenges facing the in anticipation of the UN Summit.

“We are going to decide on concrete actions for the many issues we have in common. Both of our institutions work for the well-being of the people: the PAHO from a health standpoint and us from agricultural and rural development, under the philosophy of health focused on animal, environmental and human health”, stated Otero.

In 1983, PAHO and IICA signed a permanent general cooperation agreement that has been updated several times in last 19 years based on the challenges and concerns shared by the agencies.

The common objectives are to contribute to increasing and improving production, health and rural life in the member states of both entities within the Inter-American System.

Following the most recent renewal of the alliance, actions will be aimed at promoting implementation of a culture of effective policies, regulations and programs on food health in the countries of the Americas, including Codex Alimentarius, and exchanging information and experiences on food-related risk analysis.

More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int