On 2 and 3 December, Brasilia hosted the celebration of the 4th EU-LAC Agri-Food Dialogue, organised by AL-INVEST Verde in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The event was held under the title “Water and agriculture in transition: towards sustainable and resilient management in the EU and LAC”.

During the inauguration, Diana Montero Melis, Deputy Head of the Regional Programmes Unit for Latin America and the Caribbean, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission (DG INTPA), referred to water as “a strategic common good” and pointed out that “without water there is no food security”. She advocated promoting efficient irrigation, sustainable watershed management, soil protection and climate-adapted agricultural planning.

For its part, Cristina Costa, technical coordinator of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in Brazil, highlighted the relationship between water and agriculture as a tool for generating income, environmental preservation, social cohesion, and food and nutritional security. “Without water, we have no food, we have no rural development,” she stressed.

Next, Robert Steinlechner, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation in Brazil, highlighted the presence of representatives from more than 20 countries in the European Union, Latin America and the Caribbean, and emphasised the link between water and water security “with food security, climate resilience and rural development”. “It is a strategic resource,” he said.

Finally, Rose Ponde, General Coordinator of Instruments for the National Irrigation Policy of the Brazilian Ministry of Integration and Regional Development (MIDR), highlighted the importance of efficient water use in harmony with the environment and, in this regard, highlighted different experiences and technologies that are enabling efficient water use.

Following the inauguration, the opening panel “The context of water and agriculture: challenges and prospects for the EU and LAC" was presented. First to speak was Stephanos Kirkagaslis, Officer for Soil Nutrients and Water Resilience Policies at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG AGRI), who presented “The EU Water Resilience Strategy”. Next to speak was Benedito Braga, President of the Latin American Water Council (CLA), who spoke on “Water and agriculture: challenges and prospects for LAC”.

The day continued with three panels on investment, technological solutions and governance for water management. Specialists from institutions such as the World Bank, the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) took part, along with researchers from Spain, Italy, Brazil and Canada, among others.

In total, more than 80 representatives from the public and private sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean attended the event, along with representatives from the European Union.

Visit to EMBRAPA

The following day, the facilities of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) were visited. The general manager, Sebastião Pedro,welcomed the attendees, and then the researchers Maria Emília Alves, Jorge Cesar dos Anjos Antonini and Kleberson de Souza They presented some of the activities carried out at the centre, which were visited during the day.

Specifically, the experiences of three technical stations were shared: the Water Management Reference Unit (URMA), a space set up to experiment with water use efficiency in perennial crops, and an area (technology showcase) for Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest Systems (ILPF) and soil management for water conservation.

About AL-INVEST Verde

AL-INVEST Verde is a European Union (EU) programme whose main objective is to promote sustainable growth and job creation in Latin America by supporting the transition towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient and more circular economy. Through Component 2, led by FIIAPP in consortium with IILA, the programme provides assistance for strengthening public policy and multi-stakeholder dialogues on sustainable agricultural and value chains, environmental and labour standards, as well as sustainable trade and economic policy and regulatory frameworks.