The Mexico Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (AGRICULTURA) has announced the Fourth Inter-American Congress of Water, Soil, and Agrobiodiversity (CIASA), set for August 11-13 in Mexico City. The event will bring together specialists, academics, producers, and decision-makers to advance strategies for food sovereignty.
Agriculture Secretary Julio Berdegué Sacristán emphasized that the congress, organized by the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP), has gained prominence since its inception, attracting interest from Latin America, North America, Europe, and Africa.
“That is why in the government of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, from Agriculture, we find it especially important not only to continue, but to strengthen it,” he said.
He noted that 95% of food is produced on land, where soil and water interact with animal species, fungi, microorganisms, and pollinators. In this context, CIASA aims to foster the generation and dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge on the relationship between water, soil, and agrobiodiversity — an “indispensable triangle for food sovereignty” — to support the production of more nutritious, healthy, and high-quality food.
The congress will facilitate experience sharing, strengthen connections among key stakeholders, and drive the development of innovative technologies to address climate change, according to a press release.
By 2030, the global population is projected to exceed 9.7 billion, with Mexico seeing a 3.7% increase, leading to greater food demand. Berdegué stressed the need for agri-food systems to use resources more efficiently without expanding agricultural land.
He also underscored the importance of developing innovative and safe food, regenerating soils, and transforming agriculture to be part of the solution to climate change.
Luis Ángel Rodríguez del Bosque, head of the General Directorate of the National Institute of Forestry, Agricultural, and Livestock Research (INIFAP), invited interested parties to participate in this forum, which has become a key platform for disseminating agro-environmental knowledge.
He announced that the call for research papers and posters is now open and that the event will include a virtual format to enable participation from both national and international specialists. This offers scientists and students an opportunity to share their research while ensuring broader accessibility.
The rules and participation requirements are available on the official congress website.
Admission is free.
The program will feature three keynote lectures: Agriculture, Livestock, and Forests; The Role of Science in Water and Soil; and Climate Change and Its Challenges. Additionally, there will be seminars on State Policies for Water, Soil, and Agrobiodiversity and Water in Agriculture, along with three panel discussions: Success Stories, Inter-American Panel, and Universities’ Perspective on Water and the Environment.
At CIASA 2024, the third edition of the congress, 1,460 participants from 10 countries took part, 149 research papers were accepted, and a scientific report was published.
CIASA 2025 will feature participation from the Secretariats of Agriculture and Rural Development; Science, Humanities, Technology and Innovation (Secihti); and Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat), alongside institutions such as the College of Postgraduates (Colpos), the Autonomous University of Chapingo (UACh), the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
