From May 11 to 13, 2026, the XXI Meeting of the INIA System of Ibero-America took place. This event, led by the National Institute of Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA – Spain) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), was supported by the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (AGROSAVIA) and FONTAGRO. The meeting was held at the AECID Training Center in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia.Under the theme “Sustainable Livestock,” the event provided a valuable space for sharing experiences, advances, and research priorities, aiming to strengthen more sustainable, resilient, and innovative livestock systems. The meeting underscored the importance of exchanging knowledge and perspectives among research institutes in Ibero-America, seeking to improve beef production systems and build a collaborative roadmap for the future.

Additionally, global challenges related to investment and research in sustainable livestock were addressed, reaffirming the commitment of participating countries to more efficient and environmentally responsible production.

For her part, Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, presented a strategic approach to transforming livestock farming in Latin America and the Caribbean, a sector that represents 46% of the region's agricultural GDP. During her presentation, Saini highlighted the need for more productive, low-emission systems to meet the growing global demand for protein.

The presentation included a portfolio of FONTAGRO's strategic projects focused on livestock farming, which promote the use of advanced technologies. These include satellite biomass monitoring, enteric methane sensors, and AgTech platforms, all aimed at optimizing grazing management and reducing the environmental footprint. Saini emphasized FONTAGRO's focus on closing productivity and sustainability gaps through science and collective action, validating innovations in diverse ecosystems, from the Amazon and the Andes to the Chaco and Patagonia, with the goal of strengthening food security and the region's rural fabric.

The event included two technical visits organized by AGROSAVIA. The first took place at a farm in the municipality of Arjona, where participants explored advancements in regenerative livestock farming, the management of indigenous cattle, and the implementation of AGROSAVIA savanna pastures. The second visit occurred at the Experimental Field of the Carmen de Bolívar site, where attendees were introduced to a herd of indigenous sheep and familiarized themselves with agricultural production models that feature traditional crops such as cassava and yam from Colombia.

FONTAGRO's participation in this meeting reaffirms its commitment, alongside its members, to advance toward more sustainable and resilient livestock production, promoting rural development and food security throughout Ibero-America.

Learn more about this event here.