Mexico, IICA Sign Agreement to Strengthen Agricultural Sector

Julio Berdegué, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER), and Manuel Otero, Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), signed a General Cooperation and Project Management Agreement to enhance coordinated efforts in rural development, food security, competitiveness, productivity, sanitation, food safety, and quality of agri-food products.

As part of this collaboration, IICA will contribute US$1.6 million in funding to support the control and eradication of the Cattle Tick and other strategic agricultural projects. The funds will be sourced from IICA's own resources, amounting to US$1 million, with the remainder provided by strategic partners and allied international institutions. These funds will support technical cooperation projects in priority areas, with a focus on livestock health and food safety.

The agreement reaffirms the joint commitment to develop innovative strategies to boost food sovereignty and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, while addressing the challenges posed by climate change in agriculture.

Berdegué emphasized that Mexico has been a member of IICA since 1980 and acknowledged the Institute's significant contributions to the country's agriculture, particularly in the eradication of the GBG during the 1970s and 1980s. "We appreciate continuing our collaboration with IICA," Berdegué stated.

Otero highlighted that the Institute is assigning these resources to strengthen Mexico's efforts, as well as those of Central American countries, confirming IICA’s commitment to responding to the needs of its Member States. "This type of pest requires a regional, multi-country approach, and cooperation plays a key role. Following discussions with Mexican authorities, these funds will be used for building a verification point for cattle entering Mexico in Veracruz, among other actions," Otero added.

The Cattle Tick continues to pose a significant challenge to animal health in the Mesoamerican region. Concrete control measures will include improvements in health inspections, strengthened protocols for livestock movement, and training campaigns targeting technicians, producers, and laboratories for the prevention, containment, and effective eradication of the disease.