07/04/2026
Organic agriculture is gaining significant momentum in Latin America, where it already exceeds 10 million hectares.
Quito hosted the 5th EU–LAC Agri-Food Dialogue, bringing together specialists and representatives from the public and private sectors from more than 20 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union. The initiative, organized by AL-INVEST Verde in collaboration with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), focused on promoting organic agriculture as a key element in the transition toward sustainable production models.
During the opening session, AL-INVEST Verde Director Emilio Calvo highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between both regions to advance more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agri-food systems. Similarly, the European Union Ambassador to Ecuador, Jekaterina Dorodnova, emphasized the EU’s commitment to sustainability and to strengthening strategic partnerships with Latin America and the Caribbean.
Ecuador’s Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Juan Carlos Vega, underlined the potential of organic agriculture to boost rural economies and enhance the country’s position in high-value international markets.
The opening session also included participation from Olivier Luyckx and Luis Carazo Jiménez, Heads of Unit at the European Commission; Francisco Tierraseca Galdón, Director of FIAP (the implementing entity of AL-INVEST Verde); and Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA.
Throughout the event, key topics were addressed, including regulatory frameworks for organic production, certification systems, traceability, access to international markets, and opportunities for technical cooperation between both regions. Experiences and best practices were also shared, highlighting the role of organic agriculture in promoting environmental sustainability, food security, and inclusive economic development.
More sustainable and responsible production
The “EU–LAC Agri-Food Dialogues” aim to facilitate exchange between both regions on regulations, technical approaches, markets, and public policies to advance sustainable agri-food systems. So far, AL-INVEST Verde, in collaboration with IICA, has organized several meetings on sustainable livestock and water management in agriculture, involving more than 500 stakeholders. This edition focused on organic agriculture, aligned with European policies such as the Green Deal and the “Farm to Fork” strategy, which aims to reach 25% of agricultural land under organic production by 2030.
In Latin America and the Caribbean, this model continues to grow steadily, with more than 10 million hectares dedicated to organic production and over 250,000 producers. Trade links with Europe remain key: the European market accounts for more than 37% of the region’s organic exports, making it the main supplier to Europe, covering over 40% of its total imports.
