San Jose, 14 January 2026 (IICA) – Manuel Otero’s tenure at the helm of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) enabled the organization to become a benchmark institution for supporting the transformation of agriculture across the continent, and his successor, Muhammad Ibrahim, has the knowledge and experience to further strengthen this position, thereby consolidating the Americas as a key territory for global food security.
This was stated by various prominent agricultural stakeholders from across the continent, who took stock of the leadership transition at IICA that will take place in Costa Rica this Thursday, January 15, when, in the presence of high-level government authorities from some 30 countries and representatives of international organizations, Otero will hand over the position of IICA Director General to the Guyanese agronomist.
The call for dialogue to build consensus among the highly diverse countries of the Americas; the defense of science-based decision-making; the commitment to innovation and new technologies; the expansion of strategic partnerships; and the development of collaborative bridges with the private sector were among the aspects highlighted in the recent history of an institution that has consolidated its position as an indispensable voice for agriculture as part of the solution to global challenges.
Abbigale Loncke-Watson, an entrepreneur from Guyana who promotes the economic independence of rural women, expressed pride that a Guyanese will assume leadership of an organization as important as IICA.
“IICA has long played a fundamental role in strengthening Caribbean agricultural systems, driving innovation, capacity building, and practices that directly impact farmers and rural communities. I hope it will continue to support small and medium-sized farmers, strengthen resilient agriculture, and promote policies that empower our farmers to compete, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing global environment”, said Loncke-Watson, who has been recognized by IICA as a Leader of Rurality of the Americas.
Scientist Rattan Lal, an IICA Goodwill Ambassador and holder of the IICA Chair in Soil Sciences, said he is honored by his relationship with the Institute: “Being part of IICA in recent years has meant working as a team at the forefront of the agricultural revolution. With its very high level of knowledge and reach across the Americas, it has given me the opportunity to reach very broad audiences with my message about the importance of soil health”, said the academic, who heads the Lal Carbon Center at The Ohio State University.
Reflecting on IICA’s work in recent years, Keithilin Caroo, Executive Director of Helen’s Daughters, an organization that works to strengthen women farmers in the Caribbean, described it as “not just an institution that supports agriculture and food security in our hemisphere, but a true partner that walks hand in hand with grassroots organizations, young people, and communities whose voices are often unheard”.
Caroo, IICA’s first Afro-Caribbean Goodwill Ambassador, said her aspiration is for “IICA to keep its eyes on the future: attentive to the changing circumstances of agriculture, seeking new actors and investing not only in established groups but also in emerging grassroots initiatives arising throughout the region. Together, we can continue charting a new course for Caribbean agriculture—one that is resilient, equitable, and boldly innovative”.
Farmer and ambassador Kip Tom, a global leader on agribusiness issues and a member of a family dedicated to agriculture for eight generations in the United States, highlighted IICA as the only international organization that is a reliable and relevant ally of countries across the continent in defending agricultural interests.
Tom, Vice President of Agricultural Policy at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN agencies for food and agriculture in Rome, said that agricultural development is essential for countries in the Americas and stated that IICA is “a central actor in empowering our farmers, strengthening our food systems, and reducing our dependence on global bureaucracies”.
Héctor Huergo, a prominent Argentine agronomist and journalist, said that “Otero’s tenure strengthened the institution with leadership suited to the challenges of the moment. It was precisely in these years that agriculture in the Americas became the pillar of global food security”.
Also an IICA Goodwill Ambassador, Huergo emphasized that IICA has played a key role in the environmental debate, “placing on the global table a new narrative on food and bioenergy production systems. I had the privilege of accompanying him in my role as a communicator throughout all these years”.
“I have no doubt”, he added, “that Muhammad Ibrahim will deepen this path, sustaining the narrative and the science- and technology-based foundation in a challenging context. The slowdown in productivity growth and the reemergence of pests and diseases make his experience in building alliances with diverse actors and mobilizing public and private financial resources essential”.
Cooperation, public policies, and trade
Diego Arias, World Bank Manager for Agriculture and Food for Latin America and the Caribbean, underscored the major transformation the institution has undergone in recent years: “We have seen how IICA has strengthened its capacity to develop projects and technical cooperation in the field, as well as its leadership in the area of public policies. In different food price crises, IICA’s role has been crucial. We look forward to continuing to work with the new Director General”.
Elsa Murano, former U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture and a member of the Advisory Council for the Transformation of Agrifood Systems (CATSA), emphasized IICA’s role in smoothing trade relations in the Americas. “The Institute has been key in enabling Latin American and Caribbean nations to comply with the rules imposed by the United States for fruit and vegetable imports, which has greatly benefited everyone”.
Another rural leader recognized by IICA, Daniel Bruno, a rural schoolteacher from the Argentine province of Corrientes, expressed his appreciation: “It is my hope that in this new stage, ties among leaders across the continent will be strengthened to deepen the exchange of experiences, know-how, and knowledge, since strengthening rurality and rural retention is a condition for the continuity of agricultural activity and the sustainability of food security”, he said.
IICA’s support for Caribbean farmers was highlighted by Rosamund Benn, a farmer who has encouraged dozens of rural women in her country, Guyana, to process and market their harvests to improve their incomes.
“Farmers and processors have benefited in different ways from IICA’s assistance, and that has been very positive. My expectation is that support will continue on the critical issues for small Caribbean producers, which are how to access markets, how to achieve better yields, and how to deal more efficiently with climate events. We hope to continue working with IICA”, said Benn, who received the “Soul of Rurality” award in 2023.
Manuel Otero alongside Muhammad Ibrahim, current Director General-elect of IICA.
