This report presents the results of a workshop organized by IICA-PRODAR in the framework of the Global Initiative on Post-Harvest (GIPh), sponsored by FAO and implemented in cooperation with the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR). The Workshop was conducted in Quito, Ecuador during the period 19 to 22 March, 2002.
Five sub-regional reports were prepared as background papers to the consultation, covering: the Southern Cone; Andean Sub-region; Mexico; Central America and the Caribbean. Sixteen stakeholder presentations were made by representatives from governments,
producers associations, export organizations, quality control organizations. These included
presentations on successful operations of small-scale local producers both for internal and
institutional markets, and presentations by organizations devoted to agro-industrial
innovation and consumer associations.
Working group deliberations focused on:
1. Definition of and debate on the most relevant topic areas in the framework of a regional initiative for innovation in post-production.
2. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis and strategy definition for the sub-regions.
3. Thematic areas for post-harvest interventions in the Region: actors and tools.
This summary report includes: a summary of current trends in the agri-food system of Latin America and the Caribbean; emerging challenges and related proposals; results of the SWOT for each sub-region, as well as the strategies proposed by each sub-region individually; results of thematic discussions, including the objectives, stakeholders and proposed tools. iv. Conclusions.