SADER, GEF Launch Sustainable Agriculture Project

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (SADER) will lead an international project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). This initiative aims to promote agricultural production with a focus on ecosystems and biodiversity.

The project, Integration of Biodiversity in Agriculture to the Productive Activities of Rural Landscapes of Mexico (AgriBioMex), seeks to preserve biological diversity in the countryside, promote sustainable practices in the primary sector, and provide productive and financial support to farmers, according to SADER. AgriBioMex will be implemented and executed by SADER, the Sustainable Funds Nafin (FSN), and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with an investment of MX$160 million (US$9.6 million) from GEF, and further investment from other federal agencies, as well as international organizations.

GEF is a multilateral family of funds dedicated to addressing biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution worldwide. Its financing helps developing countries tackle complex challenges and work toward international environmental goals. The partnership includes 186 member governments as well as civil society. Over the past three decades, GEF has provided nearly US$25 billion in financing and mobilized another US$138 billion for country-driven priority projects.

Victor Villalobos, Minister, SADER, noted that investments allocated for AgriBioMex are expected to generate significant benefits over the next five years for the environment and farmers, who will be the central actors in the initiative, committed to producing food while applying schemes to care for natural resources. “The project addresses the inevitable challenge of transitioning to more sustainable production systems and laying the foundations for improving production conditions, building new public policies, and more effectively channeling funding to the sector,” he said.

AgriBioMex will rely on government agricultural development programs to achieve agricultural sector policies and regulations that consider biodiversity and sustainable land use, extension programs incorporating sustainable management, and mixed financing mechanisms. The initiative will be divided by regions: Northwest in Sonora; North Pacific in Jalisco and Nayarit; Northeast in San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo Leon; Central in Mexico City, State of Mexico, and Morelos; South Pacific in Guerrero and Oaxaca; and Southeast in Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz.

Villalobos emphasized that primary production must prioritize responsible natural resource management, transition to sustainable production systems, and combine the efforts and knowledge of national and international research organizations. The initiative will promote collaboration between Mexican farmers and experts from agricultural, livestock, and forestry institutions, as well as development banks and the country’s and international solidarity economy. Collaborators for the project include the National Forestry Commission (CONAFOR), the National Institute of Solidarity Economy (INAES), Trust Funds for Agriculture (FIRA), the National Seed Inspection and Certification Service (SNICS), the National Commission of Arid Zones (CONAZA), Colegio de Postgraduados (COLPOS), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMyT), and SADER’s general coordinations, among other organizations.

Maija Peltola, Director, IFAD Mexico, pointed out that with the aim of harmonizing ecosystem care with primary productivity, the project will implement technology for the sustainable use of water and other natural resources, practices to improve soil cover, conservation efforts for native species and their genetic varieties, as well as efficient practices for use of fertilizers. Additionally, it will seek to facilitate producers’ access to markets and promote financial inclusion in the sector.

Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, Executive Director, GEF, stated that human development is one of the greatest challenges today, making it necessary to maintain and strengthen efforts to stabilize the climate and reverse the loss of biodiversity and ecosystems globally. “Worldwide, 144 times more financial resources are invested in activities that cause deforestation compared to those aimed at curbing this environmental issue, highlighting the relevance of AgriBioMex as an innovative project for the Mexican agricultural sector,” he underscored.

Laura Aguirre, General Director of International Funds and Sustainable Financing, Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP), underscored the commitment to mobilize sustainable financing by modifying the conditions of private and development banks to have a financial system that supports sustainable rural productivity. Meanwhile, Mirna Aragón, Director General of Agricultural Promotion, SADER, acknowledged the contributions of participating partners in making the project possible and specified that the unique knowledge of rural communities will be considered in this initiative, as it bets on sustainable and inclusive production. “With AgriBioMex, rural economic units will benefit by increasing the ecological integrity of their lands and, in a transversal manner, gender perspective,” she pointed out.