Agricultural ministers from across the Americas gathered in Brasília to forge a united front against pests and diseases threatening regional food security. The meeting, hosted by the Brazilian government in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), focused on enhancing technical cooperation, improving information sharing, and expanding access to advanced technologies. Key threats addressed included the New World screwworm, African swine fever, and other transboundary plant and animal diseases, which pose significant risks to farmers and rural communities. Participants pledged support for the Agricultural Health and Food Security Initiative of the Americas, a platform aimed at coordinating collective efforts in this critical area. Delegates from Argentina and the United States emphasized the importance of science-based decision-making in trade and agricultural production, noting that IICA Member States are the world’s largest net exporters of food. They stressed that maintaining a competitive, secure, and healthy agricultural system is vital for prosperity, public health, and regional development.
Regional agricultural officials reach consensus to enhance technical collaboration, facilitate innovative technologies to mitigate risks to food safety
