Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), established in 1942, is the specialized agency for agriculture under the Inter-American System. Its mission is to support Member States in achieving agricultural development, rural well-being, and sustainable management of natural resources through international technical cooperation of excellence. It operates with 34 member countries across the Americas, including a number of Caribbean states. In the Caribbean, IICA works through national and regional offices, collaborating with ministries of agriculture, local farmer organizations, regional bodies (such as OECS and CARICOM), and other stakeholders. It supports projects related to: climate change adaptation; resilient agrifood and value chains; agricultural health, food safety and quality; sustainable and family farming; bio-economy; innovation; natural resource management; and rural development. IICA also helps build capacity (training, knowledge transfer), supports trade and regional integration, fosters policy development, and promotes agroecological practices tailored to Caribbean soil and climate conditions. Its presence in countries like Jamaica, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Trinidad & Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, and others helps ensure locally relevant agricultural innovation and technical support.