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Agriculture represents an important segment of the economies of Africa, Latina America and the Caribbean (LAC), and Brazil and its importance to development have been extensively recognized and emphasized. Over the past 30 years, Brazilian agricultural growth and development has been guided by policies and technologies based on research for development. Brazilian policies, experience, and focus in social programs such as Fome Zero (Zero Hunger) targeting social protection networks for the poor, provide an important linkage between the regions. In addition, similarities in climate, ecosystems, agricultural practices, and culture may facilitate knowledge sharing and technological cooperation. Therefore, partnerships between agricultural scientists and experts in Africa, LAC and Brazil could be instrumental in supporting partner nations in their efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Such South-South collaborations complemented by relevant basic science developed in industrialized countries could make an important contribution to more productive agriculture and more affordable food for the poor in these regions.
The MKTPLACE is a partnership implemented by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) with support from various partners including, currently, the Brazilian Cooperation Agency of the Ministry of External Relations (ABC-MRE), the Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, the World Bank, the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (B&MGF), the Inter-American Development Bank (BID), the Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) of the CGIAR.
The overall objective is to enhance agricultural innovation and development in Africa and LAC through the establishment and strengthening of partnerships with Brazil.
Photo credit: ©FAO / Swiatoslaw Wojtkowiak