Called FO4LA, this initiative will support agricultural producers in their various forms: associations, cooperatives, savings and credit cooperatives, among others, to improve their management, institutional, technical and governance capacities.

The objective is to eliminate the limitations that will allow family farms and their organizations to better interact with other actors in the agricultural sector, participate in the markets with greater benefits and generate employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for the young population and rural women.

It will also allow them to take part in processes of dialogue and negotiation on public policies that affect them, and contribute to the construction of more equitable and sustainable food systems that guarantee rural people participation in food chains and fair compensation for their job.

In addition, in the area of ​​institutional strengthening and social dialogue, FO4LA will provide the insertion of small farmers in national and export markets, the development of productive diversification strategies and access to training and resources for climate-smart enterprises, agroecology, carbon capture and agroforestry systems.

The Apoyo project will be implemented by the Confederation of Family Producers Organizations of the Expanded Mercosur, an alliance of farmers in the region that brings together nine national groups from seven countries and more than 4,700 grassroots entities.

AgriCord, a global alliance of 13 cooperation agencies that support the development of this type of organization in developing countries, will also participate in its execution.

“Small farmers must be at the center of changing the way we produce, distribute and consume agricultural products if we want to guarantee healthy food accessible to all,” said IFAD Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rossana Polastri.

FO4LA will make a decisive contribution to making this possible in Latin America, she said.

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