Farmers in general, and small farmers in particular, are not harnessing the benefits of the ongoing and accelerating digital transformation. To address these challenges, Partners in GFAR have started an action on Inclusive Digital Transformation of Agriculture. The first phase was launched in August 2021 in Latin America and the Caribbean, led by the Forum of the Americas for Agricultural Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO) and in partnership with the Confederation of Family Producers Organizations of the Expanded Mercosur (COPROFAM), the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) initiative, and the AgGateway consortium of digital agriculture solution providers.

The application of digital technologies in agriculture with the aim of improving efficiency, productivity and resilience to climate change, is growing exponentially in the world and in our region. But these technological developments are not among the usual issues addressed by the actors of agricultural innovation systems. For this reason, their emergence should be analyzed by agricultural RDI (research, development and innovation) institutions and organizations in the hemisphere to define how they affect their priorities and agendas. In general, efforts are required by all actors, both public and private, to overcome the connectivity gaps, meet the need for appropriate digital developments for different types of producers in different regions, improve clarity in the regulation information privacy, and strengthen the capacities of producers, of other actors in agricultural chains and of agricultural support services, to develop and take advantage of options based on digital technologies.

The first step towards implementing FORAGRO’s new governance model was the constitution of an Assembly of Members with inclusive representation of different stakeholder groups. The Assembly met for the first time at IICA Headquarters in Costa Rica on August 8 and 9, 2017. The objectives of the meeting were:

1. to advance the implementation of the new governance model for FORAGRO by installing the Assembly of Members, discussing and approving a Charter, and beginning a process to put in place the proposed new structure; and
2. to identify priority focus areas for FORAGRO as well as define next steps to develop a strategic plan to guide the actions of the Forum.

Main Messages

1. Water can be thought of as an asset, a service, and a space. It has distinct economic, as well as noneconomic and nonmonetary values. In many cases, the latter values are spiritual or social and the underlying norms and practices that play out are often deeply gendered.

2. Water is an arena where gender relations play out in ways that often mirror inequalities between the sexes. For instance, women’s lower access to land is mirrored in their lower access to water-related natural resource assets.

3. Gender inequality in water, as elsewhere, reflects complexities that are not easily predicted. For example, not all women are disadvantaged, nor all men privileged. People have multiple identities based, among other things, on their ethnicity, race, caste, religion, socioeconomic status, location, disability status, and sexual orientation. The intersection of identities creates unique situations that require specific solutions.

4. Norms and practices related to water often exacerbate ingrained gender and other hierarchies. Informal institutions, taboos, rituals, and norms all play a part in cementing the status quo. Therefore, water often reflects, and even reinforces, gender inequality.

5. The nonmonetary, noneconomic values of water are important for policy and practice. That is because they influence the behavior of individuals and groups, particularly their response to water-related reforms or interventions.

6. Interventions that balance gender relations in water-related domains can have a strong influence in furthering gender equality more broadly.

7. Policies and programs can influence change. They are particularly effective when they improve the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those likely to be left out.

Call for Nominations for the new FORAGRO Steering Committee

The Forum of the Americas for Agriculture Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO) is the hemispheric mechanism for debate of an agreement on research, development and innovation (R+D+i) issues affecting the agriculture and food industry of the Americas.

FORAGRO is an open and inclusive organization, with voluntary membership representing the different stakeholder groups involved in agricultural R+D+i in the 34 countries of the Americas. The Forum is currently being restructured through a process that includes the establishment of new governing bodies to strengthen stakeholder representation. The highest body of the new FORAGRO governance is the Assembly of Members.

In its first face-to-face meeting held in Costa Rica in August 2017, the Assembly approved the FORAGRO Charter, which establishes the composition, organization and functioning of the Steering Committee as well as the rules for the election its members. The Steering Committee is the guiding body of FORAGRO, in charge of promoting its actions. It is the operational decision-making body for the Forum.

As mandated by the Assembly, FORAGRO's Executive Secretariat is launching the process for the election of the Steering Committee through this CALL FOR NOMINATIONS from the organizations members of FORAGRO.

The Steering Committee shall consist of the following members

1. Representatives of regional mechanisms for cooperation in agricultural R+D+i (five positions)
2. Representatives of the academy (one position)
3. Representatives of productive systems (four positions), with at least three being from farmers' organizations, including family agriculture  
4. Representatives of civil society organizations (two positions)
5. Representatives of organizations that promote agricultural R+D+i (one position)
6. Representatives of extension systems and Rural Advisory Services (one position)
7. Representatives of discussion forums linked to agricultural R+D+i (one position)
8. Representatives of intergovernmental organizations (political bodies) (one position).

The term of the members of the Steering Committee will be two years, allowing re-election for a further period. Their mandate is institutional, not personal.

Organizations which are members of the Assembly may self-nominate or nominate other member organizations. If your organization has not yet joined FORAGRO’s virtual register, we invite you to enter your organization's information using this form. If there are no nominations for any of the stakeholder groups to be represented in the Steering Committee, a subcommittee will be established to identify and propose candidates.

To submit your nomination, please send an email message to FORAGRO’s Executive Secretariat at secretaria.foragro@iica.int, with a note addressed to the President of FORAGRO, Dr. Amadeo Nicora, indicating the name and position of the person being nominated and the institution it represents. Please attach a short bio of the person who would be representing the nominated organization.

The period for receiving nominations will be open from the date of this call and until October 9, 2017. Once the nominations have been received, the Executive Secretariat will assist those groups that request it in setting up consultation processes for the election of their representatives, whether by consensus or by vote.