Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

What Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture does

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), legally the Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura, is the specialized agriculture agency of the Inter-American System under the Organization of American States (OAS), founded in 1942 in Turrialba, Costa Rica and headquartered in San Isidro de Coronado since 1976. IICA delivers technical cooperation to its 34 member states across North America, Central America, the Caribbean, the Andean Region, and the Southern Cone, plus liaison presence in Europe, serving agricultural ministries, family farmers, rural communities, producer cooperatives, and partner multilateral and private-sector organizations. The organization operates five hemispheric programs (Innovation and Bioeconomy; Territorial Development and Family Agriculture; International Trade and Regional Integration; Agricultural Health, Safety and Quality; and Agrifood Systems Digitalization) alongside targeted initiatives including OPSAa, Living Soils of the Americas, the Global Alliance Against TR4, the PIVOT surveillance project, ADOPT Caribbean, and the Carbon Finance in Sustainable Agriculture Alliance.

IICA's service surface spans digital platforms (OPSAa policy observatory, IICA CONECTA, E-learning, Radar AgTech, TeleGAN), mass-media outreach (AgroEnlace radio magazine since 2005, multimedia channels, blog), academic instruments (IICA Chairs program in Global Food Security, International Trade, Bioeconomy, Biotechnology, and Agribusiness), recognition programs (Leaders of Rurality, Goodwill Ambassadors), and event infrastructure including the COP30 House of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas pavilion. The delivery model relies on a permanent network of in-country representation offices, each staffed to provide localized technical cooperation and policy advisory directly to host governments. Recent product launches include the Bayer-IICA regenerative agriculture training tool (targeting 1 million farmers by 2030), AgriRadar with EMBRAPA, and ADOPT Caribbean operational expansions in Guyana, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

IICA's business model is that of a multilateral development agency rather than a commercial vendor: funding comes from assessed member-state contributions through the JIA, observer-state contributions, and earmarked external project financing from partners such as the Green Climate Fund, USDA, Bayer, EMBRAPA, FAO, CGIAR, CATIE, GIZ, Heifer International, CARICOM, and the Government of New Zealand. There are no commercial pricing tiers, no equity investors, no parent company controlling stake, and no listed securities. Governance is exercised by the 34 member states through the Junta Interamericana de Agricultura (JIA) and an Executive Committee, with executive leadership held by the Director General — Muhammad Ibrahim as of January 15, 2026 for the 2026-2030 term.

Name

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Legal name

Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura

Website

https://iica.int

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the OAS specialized agency for agriculture, provides technical cooperation to 34 member states across the Americas through five hemispheric programs spanning bioeconomy, territorial development, trade, agrifood health, and digitalization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Agricultural Development Cooperation

NAICS

National Security and International Affairs (928), International Affairs (92812)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environment, Climate & Sustainable Development IGOs (BPADAAAI), International Science, Technology & Space Cooperation Organizations (BPADAAAK)

Keywords

• Agricultural development
• Technical cooperation
• Rural development
• Food security
• Agrifood policy

Headquarters

HQ city

San José

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IICA delivers international technical cooperation in agricultural development and rural well-being to its 34 member states through five hemispheric programs (Innovation and Bioeconomy, Territorial Development and Family Agriculture, International Trade and Regional Integration, Agricultural Health Safety and Quality, and Agrifood Systems Digitalization). Its portfolio includes digital cooperation platforms (OPSAa, IICA CONECTA, E-learning), specialized initiatives (Living Soils of the Americas, Global Alliance Against TR4, Water and Agriculture, Carbon Finance in Sustainable Agriculture, PIVOT), multilateral projects (ADOPT Caribbean), academic chairs, and knowledge products (AgroEnlace radio magazine, technical publications) supported by 34 permanent country offices.

Product overview

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is a specialized agriculture organization of the Inter-American System that provides technical cooperation services to its 34 member states through five core hemispheric programs: (1) Innovation and Bioeconomy, (2) Territorial Development and Family Agriculture, (3) International Trade and Regional Integration, (4) Agricultural Health, Safety and Quality, and (5) Agrifood Systems Digitalization. These programs operate alongside numerous digital platforms and initiatives including the Public Policy Observatory for Agrifood Systems (OPSAa), Living Soils of the Americas, the Global Alliance Against TR4, the Carbon Finance Alliance, the PIVOT surveillance project, and the E-learning platform. IICA also manages the IICA Chairs academic program, Goodwill Ambassadors initiative, Leaders of Rurality recognition program, and maintains a presence at COP through the House of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas pavilion. The organization operates through representation offices in all 34 member countries and provides technical publications, multimedia content via AgroEnlace radio magazine, and various digital tools for agricultural monitoring and management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Leaders of Rurality: Initiative recognizing men and women who make a difference in rural areas of Latin America and the Caribbean, honoring those who guarantee food security and protect biodiversity.
• Global Alliance Against TR4
• PIVOT Project
• ADOPT Caribbean Project

Products and services

• Innovation and Bioeconomy Program Hemispheric technical cooperation program addressing bioeconomy development, technological innovation, and sustainable agricultural practices across the Americas.
• Territorial Development and Family Agriculture Program Hemispheric technical cooperation program supporting family farming and rural territorial development across IICA's member states.
• International Trade and Regional Integration Program Program focused on improving international and regional trade of agricultural products across IICA's member countries.
• Agricultural Health, Safety and Quality Program Program addressing sanitary and phytosanitary capacity, early warning systems for pests and diseases, and food safety across the Americas.
• Agrifood Systems Digitalization Program Hemispheric program focused on strengthening digital capabilities of cooperative enterprises for the use and adoption of innovative technologies to improve productive and commercial management of farmers.
• Public Policy Observatory for Agrifood Systems (OPSAa) Digital platform serving as a meeting point to foster a new generation of public policies strengthening agrifood systems of the Americas, providing data and analysis for policy decision-making.
• Living Soils of the Americas Initiative focused on soil health restoration and sustainable soil management practices across the hemisphere.
• Global Alliance Against TR4 Worldwide multi-stakeholder initiative uniting food brands, value chain companies, researchers, trade associations, financial services, public sector and civil society to fight TR4, a fungal disease threatening bananas; coordinates research, training, breeding, and control efforts, with 850 farmers trained on TR4 prevention.
• PIVOT Project Project focused on prevention of infections through surveillance and early detection at the origin of transmission in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• ADOPT Caribbean Project Regional initiative implemented in Guyana, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines supporting farmers in soil health improvement, greenhouse gas emission reduction, and climate resilience strengthening.
• Carbon Finance in Sustainable Agriculture Alliance Collective dedicated to promoting sustainable agricultural practices and advancing climate resilience through carbon finance mechanisms.
• Water and Agriculture Initiative Initiative addressing water management and agricultural sustainability, including payments for environmental services and watershed restoration.
• IICA E-learning Platform Educational platform offering courses and training materials on agricultural topics, digital skills, and technical cooperation.
• IICA CONECTA Digital cooperation platform connecting IICA initiatives and stakeholders across the Americas.
• AgroEnlace Radio Magazine Bilingual educational radio magazine transmitted biweekly since June 2005, featuring 15-minute episodes with international specialists and producers discussing agricultural topics to guide decision-making, promote associativity and innovation, and foster reflective approaches to rural realities.
• TeleGAN Progressive web application for satellite monitoring and sustainable livestock management, supporting climate-smart agriculture practices.
• Radar AgTech Tool that mapped 2,656 agricultural startups (agtechs) across 23 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with highest concentration in the Southern Cone, supporting visibility into the regional agritech ecosystem.
• IICA Chairs Program Academic program recognizing contributions in agricultural study fields and promoting new knowledge about agriculture and rural development, with chairs in Global Food Security, International Trade, Bioeconomy, Biotechnology, and Agribusiness.
• Leaders of Rurality Recognition initiative honoring men and women who make a difference in rural Latin America and the Caribbean, recognizing those who ensure food security and protect biodiversity.
• IICA Goodwill Ambassadors Program recognizing individuals for their contributions to agricultural development, sustainability, and rural welfare in the Americas.
• House of Sustainable Agriculture of the Americas (COP30 Pavilion) Hemispheric convergence point at COP30 for governments, international organizations, businesses, academia, producers, and rural communities showcasing concrete solutions promoting innovation, resilience, and social inclusion in agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 34 countries reached with technical cooperation programs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CGIARcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2026Dialogue with development partners including CGIAR at virtual event on women farmers and food security, highlighting cooperation in agricultural research and development across member states
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 February 2026Senior USDA officials and IICA Director General met to advance shared agenda on food safety, biosecurity, and Americas-to-Americas agricultural trade. IICA reaffirmed readiness to support agricultural recovery in Venezuela through technical cooperation
• BayercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2025Partnership for regenerative agriculture training tool launching at COP30 to train 1 million farmers by 2030, with modules on soil health, biodiversity, crop rotation, and digital technologies. Also joint panel on agriculture at COP30 center
• EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 November 2025Partnership for implementing AgriRadar initiative in Latin America and establishing EMBRAPA Room at IICA Headquarters. Key partner for COP30 pavilion (AgriZone) and agricultural science cooperation
• CropLife InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on COP30 pavilion and reception, bioinsumos discussion, and crop protection initiatives. Partnership on sustainable pesticide management framework
• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint work on food security, rural development, and sustainable agriculture with ECLAC-IICA-FAO joint reports on agriculture and rural development trends in Latin America and Caribbean
• CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic institution for agricultural research and training, collaborator on bioeconomy diploma program and sustainable agriculture initiatives
• CARICOM SecretariatmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARICOM BOOST project on women and youth in agriculture, aligned with CARICOM's goal of reducing region's food import bill by 25% by 2030
• Government of New ZealandmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of CARICOM BOOST project for women and youth in agriculture across Caribbean member states
• Alliance Bioversity-CIATmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Global Alliance Against TR4 for banana disease prevention and breeding programs
• GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in sustainable agriculture initiatives and climate financing projects across Latin America
• Heifer InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting events on women farmers and food security, promoting equal access to agricultural technology, finance, and markets for women smallholder farmers
• ElancominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on animal health innovation and sustainability panel at COP30
• Elfin (German organization)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgreement signed in Ireland enabling access to international financing opportunities, capacity building for small producers, value chain integration, and compliance with social, environmental and governance standards
• Global Alliance Against TR4 MembersmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-stakeholder community including food brands, value chain companies, researchers, trade associations, financial services, public sector and civil society united to fight TR4 banana disease. Members include Chiquita, Dole, Del Monte, Fyffes, Bayer, Augura, Corbana, and others

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EMBRAPA (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation): Brazil's state-owned agricultural research corporation and a named IICA strategic partner. Both provide technical cooperation, applied agricultural research, and technology transfer across tropical agriculture in Latin America; IICA and EMBRAPA jointly run the AgriRadar initiative and the COP30 AgriZone pavilion.
• CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center): Regional research and graduate education center headquartered in Costa Rica and formerly led by IICA's current Director General Muhammad Ibrahim. Both deliver agricultural research, capacity building, and bioeconomy/agroforestry programming across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development): UN specialized agency and IF financing rural development and smallholder agriculture in developing countries. IFAD and IICA operate overlapping mandates on family farming, rural poverty, and climate-resilient agriculture across Latin America and the Caribbean.
• CGIAR (formerly Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research): Global agricultural research partnership that IICA partners with on women-farmers programming and TR4 banana research via Bioversity-CIAT. Both operate as multilateral platforms coordinating agricultural research and development for food security across member-country networks.

Regional players

• CIRAD (French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development): France's public research organization working with tropical and Mediterranean countries on agricultural development. CIRAD and IICA share a tropical-agriculture research and technical cooperation mandate, though CIRAD is Europe-anchored while IICA spans the Americas.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit): German development agency that is named as a major IICA partner for sustainable agriculture and climate-finance projects across Latin America. Both are state-funded cooperation agencies delivering agricultural and rural development programming, though GIZ is Germany-led and bilateral in nature.

Broad incumbents

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations): UN specialized agency with a global mandate to defeat hunger and improve nutrition. IICA is its hemispheric equivalent in the Inter-American System; both deliver technical cooperation, policy advice, and statistical/research capacity to member states on food security, sustainable agriculture, and rural development.
• USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS): U.S. government agency that links U.S. agriculture to the world and collaborates with IICA (per the Feb 2026 USDA-IICA meeting) on food safety, biosecurity, and Americas-to-Americas agricultural trade — a bilateral peer operating in the same space with a different funding base.
• World Bank Agriculture and Food Global Practice: Multilateral lender and policy advisor supporting agricultural transformation in developing countries. Operates with greater financial scale than IICA but relies on IICA's country-office network for technical cooperation and project implementation in the Americas.
• Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) - Agriculture and Rural Development sector: Hemispheric development bank operating across the same Latin American and Caribbean member states as IICA. IDB finances large-scale rural infrastructure and agrifood investments that complement IICA's technical cooperation mandate, frequently as co-implementers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iicanoticias
• YouTubeyoutube.com/iicanoticias
• Facebookfacebook.com/IICAnoticias
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/40611
• Instagraminstagram.com/iicaoficial
• TikToktiktok.com/@iicaoficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture