Brazil, IICA examine ageing agricultural workforce, other issues

Last Updated on Tuesday, 9 June 2026, 22:07 by Writer

Top officials of the Brazilian government and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) on Friday focussed on the ageing agricultural workforce, among other issues.

“Among the key issues examined were strategies for addressing the aging agricultural workforce and attracting younger generations to careers in agriculture. Participants emphasized the need to make agriculture more appealing through innovation, technology, entrepreneurship and improved access to markets,” the World Trade Centre Georgetown (WTCG) said in a statement.

Chairman of WTCG Executive Director Wesley Kirton facilitated wide-ranging discussions on the opportunities and challenges confronting modern agriculture.

According to the WTCG statement, the discussions also focused on the transformative role of science and technology in agriculture, including the growing application of artificial intelligence (AI) and precision agriculture techniques to improve productivity, sustainability and resilience.

Other areas explored included logistics and transportation challenges, market access opportunities, compliance with food safety and phytosanitary standards, cultivation best practices, and the selection of suitable crop varieties, livestock breeds and seed stock, the WTCG added. 

The WTCG said the impact of climate change on agricultural production and food security was also a major area of focus, with participants exchanging views on adaptation strategies and the importance of regional and international cooperation in building resilient agricultural systems.

The meeting further explored opportunities for future collaboration between the IICA and the WTCG following the signing earlier on Tuesday of an agreement between the IICA and the Government of Guyana.

Both organisations expressed an interest in working together on initiatives that support agricultural development, trade facilitation, innovation and capacity building, said the WTCG. 

Discussions also highlighted private sector investments in agriculture, including the dairy farm being established by Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) at Moblissa and the juice production operations of DDL’s subsidiary TOPCO.

These ventures were cited as examples of efforts to strengthen Guyana’s agro-processing sector, reduce import dependence and create new economic opportunities.