G/AG/GEN/201   
20 June 2022  
(22-4751) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  Original: Spanish  
 
  
CONTRIBUTION OF THE INTER -AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR COOPERATION ON  
AGRICULTURE (IICA)  
 
"COVID -19 AND AGRICULTURE"  
Submission by the IICA  
The following submission, dated 17 June 2022, is being circulated at the request of the 
Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).  
 
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1.1.  The International Trade and Regional Integration Programme of the Inter -American Institute 
for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) aims to support the Institute's member countries i n improving 
their participation in international markets for agrifood products. Its actions are thus twofold: some 
are aimed at improving market access and implementing trade policy, while others are aimed at 
better identifying and tapping into trade oppor tunities generated by trade agreements and regional 
integration processes.  
1.2.  Since 2020, with a view to promoting trade links and business networks between companies 
in the region and their main trading partners, as well as consolidating and diversifying exp ort 
markets in order to contribute to economic recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic and to global and 
regional food security and nutrition, the IICA has been promoting the development of virtual 
business roundtables.  
1.3.  Moreover, at times of high inflation in  the prices of  food, input s and fertilizer s, as well as rising 
logistics and transport costs, virtual business roundtables are a tool that can help  balanc e food 
deficits and surpluses among Latin American and Caribbean countries, helping to increase the var iety 
of food available and improve economic access to food, by acting as a supply and price stabiliz er. 
1.4.  The Institute has been promoting business roundtables at the hemispheric, sub -regional and 
national level.  
1.5.  At the hemispheric level, together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United 
Nations (FAO), the Executive Secretariat of the Agricultural Council (SECAC) and the Secretariat for 
Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), the IICA has held five " Virtual business roundtables 
of the agrifood chains of Latin American and the Caribbean " since  2020, and will hold the sixth this 
September. Companies in the agrifood sector chain, such as those that supply and purchase food 
and those that provide support services that facilitate product ion and marketing, are welcome to 
participate in these roundtables. Close to 3,000  companies from 23  countries participated in the first 
five roundtables, with expected business totalling  USD 69 million.  
1.6.  At the sub -regional level, in the Caribbean, the Ins titute promoted the " Strengthening the trade 
capacity of Caribbean producers of fresh and processed products to strengthen regional markets " 
initiative, with a view to promoting intra -regional trade, reducing the countries' dependence on food 
and beverage supplies from outside the region, and contributing to economic recovery from the 
COVID -19 pandemic. Participating companies  strengthened their capacities for, inter alia , identify ing 
regional market opportunities, develop ing export strategies and tactics, develop ing logistics plans 
for shipping their products, and identify ing and comply ing with trade rules and standards for 
accessing export markets. They were also able to test market their products on select markets, and G/AG/GEN/201  
 
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  to include them on virtual e -commerc e platforms. This process culminated in the first virtual agrifood 
roundtable, in which 120 small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) from the sector took part, with 
expected business exceeding USD 1 million.  
1.7.  At the national level, the Global Bioexporter P rogramme: From Ecuador to the World has been 
held twice , with a view to promoting the supply of processed organic products, diversifying 
destinations and promoting economic recovery from the COVID -19 pandemic. Prior to participating 
in the virtual business  roundtables, the SMEs involved took part in training on various topics, such 
as trends in consumption of organic products, labelling requirements  and demands , certifications 
required for marketing Ecuadorian products, export routes and market access, nego tiation skills and 
assertive ways of communicating with potential customers. This initiative is led by the IICA and the 
National Association of Food and Beverage Manufacturers (ANFAB) of Ecuador, with the support and 
participation of the Ecuadorian Federat ion of Exporters (FEDEXPOR), the Ministry of Production, 
Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries, the Agency for Phytosanitary and Animal Health Regulation 
and Control (AGROCALIDAD), the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, the Inter -American 
Commission for Organic Agriculture (CIAO), and other organizations. To date, the export capabilities 
of 45 companies have been strengthened, virtual business roundtables have been held in four 
European Union countries, and over USD  3 million in expected business has been generated.  
1.8.  For more information, please contact Adriana Campos Azofeifa, IICA Trade Specialist, at 
adriana.campos@iica.int . 
 
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