Mohamed Ibrahim, who was elected Director-General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) for the period 2026-2030, promised to work with all regions of the continent and focus on integrating Science, technology and innovation To meet the challenges facing countries and farmers.
Ibrahim, A Guyanese agricultural engineer with 35 years of experience in international managementHe was elected by a majority vote of the Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas, meeting in Brasilia within the framework of the Inter-American Agriculture Board (IABA), the highest administrative body of the IICA.
New general manager He will take office on January 15 and Successor to Argentine Manuel Otero. Who led for eight years the Hemisphere Organization, founded in 1942 and headquartered in San Jose, Costa Rica, and leaves behind A legacy highly recognized by representatives of various countrieseven by the Argentine Minister of Agriculture, Sergio Erreta.
“Feel Honored and grateful For choosing him to lead this great international institution. I will be General Manager for all regions – North, South, Andean, Central America and Caribbean – with A Focus on inclusion and diversity on the continent.”Ibrahim said, in his acceptance speech for the position, that he praised the work of Otero and appreciated the qualities of the other candidate who competed for the position in these elections, the Uruguayan agricultural engineer. Fernando Matos.
He also thanked the Brazilian government, the organizer of IABA and the 2025 Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas, along with IICA.
The next Director-General explained that he will seek to strengthen Integration between countries The Americas, which has Heterogeneous productivity profilesHe considered that IICA faces great challenges.
Ibrahim is an agricultural engineer with extensive experience in international management We have dedicated 35 years to building networks to increase the productivity and resilience of the agricultural sector in the Americas. He has experience in founding Alliances and mobilization of financial resourcesWorking with decision makers and establishing key contacts on the American continent.
His training includes a Master’s degree in agricultural sciences and natural resources With a focus on animal nutrition from the Center for Tropical Agriculture and Higher Education Research (CATIE) in Costa Rica, where he was Director General, and PhD in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences He holds a specialty in livestock and animal nutrition from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, one of the most prestigious universities in the world in the field of agricultural sciences.
“The world – as Ibrahim explained in his speech – is currently going through many risks and great uncertainty. This has put IICA in a difficult position.” Crossroads: must be addressed The many challenges and requirements for technical cooperation Its member states within the framework Scarcity of resources“.
I specified the following Challenges:
“IICA,” he said In good standing Continue to act as a reference institution with its partners and member states to confront these challenges Transforming agriculture into an engine of prosperity From the countries of the Americas.
The Director-General-elect proposes that IICA strengthen its technical capacity in the field of science, technology and innovation, to expand its use Modern tools and advanced technologies. “We must deepen the work done by IICA to encourage investments aimed at transforming agri-food systems and improving the economic and financial viability of agricultural enterprises, especially small farmers,” he said.
Ibrahim said that during the past three months he visited many countries on the continent, where he met with the main actors in the agricultural sector, and He took note of the policies being implemented and the obstacles that needed to be overcome.
“Looking to the future, I am committed to strengthening the environment of collaboration, interconnection and innovation, and strengthening the foundations laid by current and previous IICA administrations,” he concluded. By working together, we can make a lasting impact on our agricultural and food systems.”
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