Cooperative Program for the Technological Development of the Agro-food and Agroindustry in the Southern Cone - PROCISUR

The Cooperative Program for the Technological Development of the Agro-food and Agro-industry in the Southern Cone (PROCISUR) began en 1980 as common effort of the National Institutes of Agricultural Research (INIAs) of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay and IICA (Inter-American Institute for Agriculture Cooperation) to promote cooperation of all actors involved in agro- technological innovation in the region.
The goal of PROCISUR is to contribute to the building of a regional system of technological innovation, striving the provision of knowledge and technology to respond to the demand of the Agri-food and Agroindustrial System (AAS). PROCISUR is, at present stage, working in five Strategic Lines (SLs): a) Technological breakthrough in competitiveness (biotechnology and genetic resources); b) Quality of agri-food chains; c) Environmental sustainability; d) Small scale agriculture; and e) Organic farming. In order to work in these SLs, PROCISUR is articulating with technological supply/demand components: i.e. i) leading private enterprises on the agri-food chains inside the enlarged MERCOSUR; ii) public institutions and NGOs
dealing with natural resources, environment and bio-diversity preservation; iii) MERCOSUR and government areas and/or working groups dealing with small farmers and family agriculture; iv) public and private institutions recognized to be the most important technological suppliers in the enlarged MERCOSUR (mainly NARIS and universities); v) MERCOSUR and national governments decision-taking areas, involved in agri-food and agroindustrial development; vi) international system of agricultural technology (GFAR, CGIAR, CIRAD, etc).

At present PROCISUR is participating in different international projects, including:

• European Union, (FP6 INCO-Dev LOTASSA, FP5 Inco-Dev MYCOTOX), World Bank (Climate Change and Poverty)
• FONTAGRO (Trigo Siembra Directa; Rizobiología Alfalfa, Control biológico Plagas de frutales, Pyricularia en Arroz, Leguminosas Forrajeras.

Recent studies directly related to the OTAG project, include:

• Estado Actual de los Sistemas de Trazabilidad en los países del Cono Sur (2004)
• Estudio sobre el mercado mundial de las carnes (2005)
• Obstáculos y desafíos en la producción y comercialización de las carnes. El caso de Argentina (2005)
• Trazabilidad de las carnes en el mercado mundial (2006 , in progress)

PROCISUR will especially participate in the dissemination plans of OTAG. Dissemination of project results and findings will use diverse channels and mechanisms: PROCISUR, will use its vast Southern Cone network to diffuse project progress and results (pamphlets, newsletter, WebPage). In addition, PROCISUR will insert the new information into the IICA networks, thereby channeling project diffusion through its Latin American networks and newsletters.
Also will participate in the organization of project meetings celebrated in SA countries, will organize as well meetings with potential end-users of OTAG results. Various audiences and interest sectors will be targeted for dissemination of the project outputs, including: (i) National Agricultural Research Institutions officers and policy-makers; (ii) farmer associations; (iii) industrial sector (iv) scientific community, both at the wider audiences and more restricted interest groups, such as those involved directly in bovine traceability.

 

Website: http://www.procisur.org.uy