Former Brazilian Minister of Agriculture, Alysson Paolinelli, promoter of the sustainable tropical agriculture model that transformed the South American country into a global agri-food power, was named Goodwill Ambassador of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
The title was given to Paolinelli by the Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero, in a ceremony attended by senior government authorities, including the Brazilian Ministers of Agriculture, Tereza Cristina, and of Citizenship, Osmar Terra.
“It is not me who should be receiving this honor, but we who should be presenting an award to IICA. IICA helped me a lot, making it possible to send young Brazilian researchers abroad to specialize. From the universities, with the support of IICA, it was possible to integrate the project that allowed Brazil to launch itself in the search for the first steps of tropical agriculture that we have today, which is the most efficient model in the world”, said Paolinelli upon receiving the title.
An agricultural engineer from the Escola Superior de Agronomia de Lavras (Esal, now the Federal University), Paolinelli was Secretary of Agriculture of Minas Gerais, when he created incentives that made this state the largest coffee producer in Brazil.
As the country's Minister of Agriculture, Paolinelli was the great modernizer of the renowned Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) and the promoter of the economic occupation of the Brazilian Cerrado. In 2006, Paolinelli received the World Food Prize, an award equivalent to the Nobel Prize for Food.
"Agriculture is a fundamental activity, a driver of development and the backbone of our countries. We need many 'Paolinellis' in agriculture in the Americas, to spread their enthusiasm, their ability to execute, to promote development through initiatives that prioritize agriculture , making rural areas an attractive place for young people", said Otero when presenting the title.
Minister Tereza Cristina highlighted the presence of all the secretaries of her portfolio in the tribute to Paolinelli, indicating that IICA "should also be honored for its important work with Brazilian agriculture".
Furthermore, she highlighted the relevance of the alliance between the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) and IICA. "We are going to continue this partnership even stronger and Brazil really needs the projects we do together, due to the country's leading role as a major global exporter", stated the minister.
Minister Osmar Terra, in turn, commented that "Manuel Otero, Director General of IICA, is making a small revolution and will certainly continue to boost agriculture, including family farming, in Brazil and the Americas".
Mission in Brazil
The awarding of recognition to Alysson Paolinelli concluded the agenda of strategic meetings of the Director General of IICA in Brazil, who previously met with the president of Embrapa, Sebastião Barbosa, to discuss the strengthening of joint work, uniting IICA's capillarity in the Americas and Embrapa’s research and technology contributions.
In a meeting with senior officials from UN agencies, led by Niky Fabiancic, resident coordinator of the United Nations System in Brazil, Otero presented IICA's strategic programs and discussed possible actions shared with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (FAO); the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD); World Food Program (WFP); and United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
The Director General of IICA was also received by federal deputy Alceu Moreira, president of the Agricultural Parliamentary Front (FPA).
During the visit to Brazil, Otero also met with ministers Gustavo Canuto (Regional Development) and Osmar Terra (Citizenship); with the executive secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Marcos Montes; and with the president of the OCB System (Organization of Brazilian Cooperatives), Márcio Lopes de Freitas.
IICA Goodwill Ambassador Program
IICA Goodwill Ambassadors share concerns and commitments to achieve sustainable and equitable development and are willing to join a cause to increase public awareness and work for development through projects related to food security, bioeconomy, relations gender and youth, responsible production or climate change, all key themes on the IICA agenda.
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