Agriculture Ministry, TecNM Partner to Boost Food Sovereignty

Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) and the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) signed a collaboration agreement to strengthen food sovereignty by channeling scientific and technological knowledge toward small and medium-scale agricultural producers.

The agreement outlines academic, research, and innovation-focused initiatives aimed at enhancing productivity and sustainable development in rural areas. During the signing ceremony, Julio Berdegué, Minister, SADER, emphasized the importance of connecting science and technology with the agricultural sector, particularly among marginalized producers. “This agreement will succeed if we manage to connect over half a million TecNM students with the countryside. Science and technology are often out of reach for the small producers who need them most,” he stated.

Ramón Jiménez, Director General, TecNM, explained that the partnership integrates three core pillars: technology transfer to the agricultural sector, infrastructure and financing support to strengthen welfare programs, and applied research focused on soil regeneration, native seed preservation, pest control, and sustainable fertilization. He added that TecNM has a dual role: to generate scientific knowledge that raises agricultural productivity and to train professionals capable of promoting socially and environmentally just alternatives to prevailing economic models.

The agreement will enable TecNM’s 254 campuses to contribute through service-learning and community engagement programs. Students, faculty, and researchers will work directly with rural communities and the Ministry’s staff to develop and apply technologies tailored to local needs. Activities will include joint academic events, shared research publications, material exchange, and the launch of a National Agro-Food Innovation Forum to identify and promote high-impact proposals.

Arturo Chávez, Head of Cross-Cutting Policy, Ministry of Science, Humanities, Technology, and Innovation (SECIHTI), said the partnership supports Mexico’s goal of becoming a global scientific power serving public needs. Furthermore he stressed the need for collaborative action to achieve scientific and food sovereignty. “We must recover the community and collaborative spirit. We cannot achieve food and scientific sovereignty without collective efforts and shared goals,” he concluded.