Innovation Commission at the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas at IICA headquarters, Costa Rica

Michal Kremer, the chair of the Innovation Commission and Goodwill Ambassador for Sustainable Development at IICA, led the forum on Bridging Gaps in Innovation, Science, and Technology at the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2023. The event, organized by IICA at its headquarters, brought together 32 ministers from the Americas, alongside senior national authorities, international organization representatives, rural leaders, renowned academics, and members of the production and industrial sectors.

During his keynote address at the conference, Kremer underscored the crucial role of new technologies in enhancing the productivity and quality of life for smallholder farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean. Using examples, Kremer illustrated how the benefits of providing access to weather forecasts and soil composition information can far outweigh the associated costs. He also spoke about the role of science and research, highlighting innovations such as microbial fertilizers that utilize bacteria to enhance nutrient absorption and improve soil health.

The event also featured interventions from notable ministers attending the conference, including Augusto Valderrama, Minister of Agricultural Development of Panama; Ariel Martínez, Undersecretary of Policy Coordination at Secretariat of Agriculture of Argenitna; and Tom Rosser, Assistant Deputy Minister at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Click here to read the complete press release.