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Manuel Otero, Director General Emeritus of IICA; Alejandro Solano, Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship of Costa Rica; Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana; Mary Munive Angerm\u00fcller, Vice-President of Costa Rica; Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA; and Cleber Soares, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil.<\/div>\n
San Jose, Costa Rica, 15 January 2026 (IICA) \u2013 Muhammad Ibrahim assumed office as the new Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in a ceremony witnessed by ministers and senior officials of more than thirty countries. The Guyanese agronomist pledged to work for all regions of the Americas, striving to build more competitive and efficient science-based agrifood systems.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Mary Munive Angerm\u00fcller, Vice-President of Costa Rica; Arnoldo Tinoco and Alejandro Solano, Minister and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Costa Rica, the country where IICA Headquarters is located; Zulfikar Mustapha, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana; and Cleber Soares, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil, were seated on the main platform during the ceremony in which outgoing Director General, Manuel Otero, handed over the reins of the institution to his successor.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Also present at the inauguration ceremony were officials from the United States\u2014representing the State Department and the Secretariat of Agriculture\u2014and from Argentina.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cleber Soares, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil; and Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Ibrahim boasts extensive experience in agricultural development, international cooperation and public policy and has occupied various leadership positions in academic institutions and international organizations, establishing himself as an authority in issues related to sustainable agriculture and rural development.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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On the other hand, IICA, which has a presence in thirty-four countries of the Americas, plays a fundamental role in providing support to governments to design and implement public policies to boost agricultural productivity and resilience.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Cleber Soares\u2014who was representing Minister of Agriculture of Brazil and current Chair of IICA\u2019s highest governing body, the Inter-American Board of Agriculture (IABA), Carlos F\u00e1varo\u2014was tasked with swearing in Ibrahim as the new Director General.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Muhammad Ibrahim assumed office as the new Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in a ceremony witnessed by ministers and senior officials of more than thirty countries.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI accept this tremendous responsibility with gratitude, humility and a profound sense of purpose\u201d, said the Guyanese agronomist. \u201cI am going to be a Director General for all the Americas, recognizing that we need differentiated strategies for each region of the hemisphere\u201d.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cI promise to raise the bar of excellence of the Institute even more, to strengthen joint work with the countries and to close the gaps to ensure more sustainable agrifood systems. I will foster an environment in which collaboration, partnerships and technical capacities can flourish, guided by transparency, financial prudence and accountability\u201d, he added. He also acknowledged the work of his predecessor Manuel Otero, whose tenure had positioned IICA as a benchmark institution in providing technical support for agricultural and rural development in the countries.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The outgoing Director General, in turn, stated, \u201cI had the honor of leading an institution with history, prestige and a future, that plays a critical role in transforming our countries\u201d. He also underscored the priority given to farmers and their quality of life in the Institute\u2019s work.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In attendance at the ceremony of inauguration were V\u00edctor Carvajal, Rodwell Ferguson and Ignacia Fern\u00e1ndez, ministers of Agriculture of Costa Rica, Belize and Chile, respectively; and Silvia Massruh\u00e1, President of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), among other high-level officials. Former IICA Directors General V\u00edctor Villalobos of Mexico, Chelston Brathwaite of Barbados and Mart\u00edn Pi\u00f1eiro of Argentina also participated in person.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The outgoing Director General stated that for him it had been an honor to lead an institution that plays a fundamental role in transforming the region and he underscored the importance of farmers.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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A message on behalf of the U.S. government noted that, \u201cIICA delivers tangible results in the hemisphere, strengthening the agrifood systems that support farmers and ranchers, thereby facilitating international trade and enhancing the sovereignty and resilience of its Member States. During Dr. Otero\u2019s eight-year tenure, relationships and partnerships were strengthened for the benefit of the Western Hemisphere, agriculture was positioned as a strategic sector, and cooperation in the Americas was enhanced based on science and trust\u201d.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe challenges facing agriculture today and in the future require a renewed approach. Agriculture will need to be viewed as a priority for national security, in order to enhance resilient exports and empower consumers. We look forward to working with Dr. Ibrahim in the Member States to ensure that agriculture remains a pillar for security, prosperity and opportunities. We have the land, the people and the expertise, and when we put farmers first, we win\u201d, he added.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Agust\u00edn Tejeda, Deputy Secretary of Agrifood Markets at the Secretariat of Agriculture of Argentina, highlighted Ibrahim\u2019s \u201cprofessional and technical experience and profound knowledge of the region, which provide a solid foundation for leading IICA during a key phase in which production and international trade must be strengthened\u201d.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAt present, agriculture in our region faces the great challenge of improving productivity, advancing toward a more efficient use of inputs and resources, incorporating innovation, and fully capitalizing on the opportunities afforded by international markets. Within this context, IICA plays a fundamental role as a technical cooperation agency, assisting countries in designing and implementing science- and evidence-based public policies aimed at reducing costs, eliminating distortions and improving competitiveness\u201d, he added.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Muhammad Ibrahim has assumed office as the IICA General Director for the 2026-2030 period.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Senior officials from all countries in the Western Hemisphere watched the ceremony online.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Speaking from Georgetown, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, delivered remarks via a video message in which he referred to IICA\u2019s \u201ccritical role\u201d in generating agricultural value added and supporting development. He also congratulated his fellow countryman Ibrahim on the responsibility he was assuming.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cAgriculture is the backbone of rural prosperity. It stabilizes our economy, which is why IICA plays such a vital role. I congratulate Muhammad Ibrahim and recognize IICA\u2019s importance as a pillar for development and for strengthening partnerships to achieve a competitive, resilient and sustainable agriculture sector\u201d, remarked the president.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Minister Mustapha, who is also Chair of the Ministerial Task Force on Agriculture of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), congratulated Ibrahim on becoming \u201cthe first Guyanese to lead this prestigious institution\u201d and highlighted the fact that \u201chis career, both in our homeland and on this global stage, is a testament to the tremendous potential that exists in our region\u201d.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Minister commended Manuel Otero on his tenure and stated that the new IICA Director General\u2019s \u201cproven capacity to integrate science, policies and practical actions represents the type of leadership needed to address the complex agricultural and food security scenario\u201d.<\/div>\n
About IICA<\/div>\n
IICA is the specialized agency for agriculture in the Inter-American system, with a mission to encourage, promote and support its 34 Member States in their efforts to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being through international technical cooperation of excellence.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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