Mexico Strengthens Food Safety

The Mexican government, academia, and the private sector agreed that collaboration between public authorities and industry strengthens agricultural health and food safety, boosts competitiveness, and ensures safe food for more than 120 million people in Mexico. The statement was made during the inauguration of the 3rd National Congress on Agricultural Health and Food Safety 2025, organized by the National Agricultural Council (CNA). Javier Calderón, Director General, National Service for Health, Safety and Food Quality (SENASICA), said investing in prevention is not an expense, but an investment in sovereignty and economic stability.

Calderón emphasized that agricultural health and food safety are public goods protected by the state and that these systems are strengthened when the private sector treats health as a shared responsibility. “Health may not be visible, but it is felt in every producer who avoids losses, every consumer who trusts what they eat, and every export that reaches its destination without rejection,” he said.

The congress has become a major forum for discussing public policy on agricultural health and food safety. Past editions have highlighted the role of health and safety systems in securing food, opening markets, protecting livestock and crops, and supporting rural economies.

Calderón noted that pests and diseases once confined to tropical regions are now appearing in temperate zones, altering ecosystems and epidemiological patterns. He called for 21st-century surveillance to be predictive and technology-driven, including emergency plans and national sanitary drills to mobilize resources quickly in the event of threats.

Alan Elizondo, Director General, Agricultural Trusts (FIRA), said Mexico is developing production systems that meet high standards of health and food safety from farm to shelf. He added that government financial support has helped to promote sustainable and accessible technologies and processes for small and medium producers.

Jorge Esteve, President, CNA, highlighted the country’s sanitary and safety infrastructure, including over 400 Federal Inspection Type (TIF) facilities and about 70 phytosanitary and zoosanitary campaigns, which guarantee food supply for more than 120 million consumers and exports to 190 countries. He called on producers, academia, private industry, and lawmakers to continue supporting Senasica’s work.

Francisco Cervantes, President, Mexican Business Coordinating Council (CCE), said the primary sector is critical to public health and food supply and contributes nearly 10% to the national GDP. He stressed that continuous improvement in agriculture is key for sustainable practices and informed decision-making against threats.

Raúl Antonio, Executive Director, Regional International Organization for Plant and Animal Health (OIRSA), highlighted the importance of public-private cooperation to tackle threats such as the cattle bark beetle. He recalled that more than 70 years ago, OIRSA member countries joined forces against the Central American locust, setting a precedent for regional pest and disease prevention.

Diego Montenegro, Representative in Mexico, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), said Mexico has become a regional reference for technical, scientific, political, and technological dialogue on agricultural health and food safety. “There is no modern agriculture or sustainable livestock without strong sanitary systems, and no reliable trade without safe food that ensures consumer health and trust,” he said.

Finally, Mauricio Andrade, Director General, Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS), noted the institution’s role in training specialized human resources and generating scientific knowledge in agricultural health. He called for recognizing research institutions as allies in protecting the nation’s agricultural assets, a task that requires a committed network of partnerships for public and rural health.