Sustainable tropical agriculture: regional actors advance in the construction of a critical pathway for Mexico and the Americas

• The event advances a regional agenda to transform tropical agriculture through innovation and cooperation.

The international event, held in Tapachula, Chiapas, brings together specialists, authorities, and stakeholders from the agri-food sector to promote sustainable, inclusive, and competitive solutions through science, innovation, and regional cooperation.

Within the framework of cooperation between CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), with the support of the Secretariat of Agriculture of Chiapas, the International Event “Sustainable, Inclusive and Competitive Tropical Agriculture: Critical Pathway for Mexico and the Americas” is being held in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, as a strategic space aimed at strengthening the transformation of the agri-food sector in the region.

Over three days, the event brings together representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and producers, who participate in conferences, high-level panels, technical dialogue spaces, and field visits, with the objective of jointly building a roadmap for sustainable agricultural development for the 2026–2030 period.

The opening ceremony brought together authorities and leaders from the sector, including Mr. Marco Antonio Barba Arrocha, Secretary of Agriculture of Chiapas; Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA; Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE; Ms. Beatriz Paredes, IICA Goodwill Ambassador; as well as representatives from SEDARPA and SEDAGRO of the states of Morelos and Veracruz, and Diego Montenegro, IICA Representative in Mexico.

In this context, Secretary Arrocha highlighted the productive potential of the territory and the inclusive vision promoted by the state:

“Tapachula is a land with a strong agricultural vocation, with high fertility and enormous opportunities to produce quality food and compete nationally and internationally. We have important producers of banana and mango, but the focus is clear: to work hand in hand with small, medium, and large producers. We are committed to an inclusive productive chain that allows new generations of farmers, livestock producers, and rural workers to have a dignified life.”

For his part, Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that this event is part of a broader process of regional articulation:

“This event is not isolated; it responds to the consolidation of a hemispheric platform for tropical agriculture. Our technical mission is clear: we must move from traditional models to a model of sustainable intensification, and Chiapas has the resources to become a laboratory that demonstrates how to advance toward solutions that can be replicated throughout the region.”

He also highlighted the operational nature of this joint agenda:

“Together with CATIE, as a technical arm, we are not seeking only concepts, but a portfolio of initiatives and follow-up mechanisms that give life to the Chiapas Declaration 2026. Our goal is to have a critical roadmap for 2026–2030 that guides technical cooperation, innovation, and public policies across the tropical regions of the Americas.”

Dr. Pocasangre emphasized CATIE’s role in generating applied science-based solutions:

“At CATIE, we focus on education and applied research as the foundation for transforming agri-productive systems. We promote concrete actions in areas such as sustainable livestock, watersheds, coffee, cacao, plantain, and banana, with the objective of bringing solutions from science to the territory.”

He also highlighted the strategic value of this new phase of cooperation with IICA:

“This alliance strengthens our capacity to articulate knowledge, innovation, and field action. We work to ensure that results reach those who need them most, especially producers, whom we recognize as the central axis of these processes.”

As part of CATIE’s participation in the event, the interventions of Laura Benegas, Director of Research for Inclusive Green Development and watershed specialist, and Claudia Sepúlveda, leader of the Livestock and Environmental Management Unit, also stand out, as they share CATIE’s experiences in these strategic areas for the sustainability of production systems in the region.

El evento aborda temas clave como innovación tecnológica, financiamiento para el desarrollo sostenible, climate resilience, inclusión productiva y gestión de recursos naturales, reflejando la necesidad de avanzar hacia sistemas agroalimentarios más eficientes, equitativos y adaptados a los desafíos actuales.

The watershed-based development approach was another central element of the dialogue, highlighting its importance for integrated water management, soil conservation, and the resilience of production systems in the face of climate change. This approach, which has already been adopted by the state of Chiapas, enables the articulation and prioritization of actions at the territorial level, integrating production, conservation, and the well-being of rural communities.

Asimismo, durante el evento se destacó la amenaza de la raza tropical 4 de Fusarium fungus (TR4), enfermedad que afecta al banano y al plátano, y que representa un riesgo significativo para la producción en la región. Productores manifestaron su interés en fortalecer medidas de prevención y bioseguridad, considerando que el banano es uno de los principales rubros económicos del Soconusco, en el estado de Chiapas.

Likewise, the event highlighted the threat of Tropical Race 4 of Fusarium (TR4), a disease that affects banana and plantain, and which represents a significant risk to production in the region. Producers expressed their interest in strengthening prevention and biosecurity measures, considering that banana is one of the main economic activities in the Soconusco region in the state of Chiapas.

In this way, cooperation between CATIE and IICA is reaffirmed as a key catalyst for the development of comprehensive solutions that contribute to improving climate resilience, food security, and the well-being of rural communities in the Americas.