Technical information is a key element in every process of research or innovation that takes place in the agricultural sector. In the institutions that promote these processes, managing technical information poses several challenges. These occur in a changing environment, marked by an exponential increase in the quantity of potentially important information and by continuous advances in information and communication technologies (ICT), among other factors. The challenges include the need to incorporate the information related objectives and activities explicitly within the planning and execution of all institutional processes and taking maximum advantage of the possibilities offered by available ICT, while providing support for processes of knowledge management. Information management (IM) takes place through a series of actions that involve: 1) defining objectives and priorities related to the area of the information, and 2) planning, facilitating and coordinating the necessary activities to reach these objectives.

It is in this framework that this project proposes the urgent need for raising awareness among decision makers on the importance of managing adequately the technical information in agricultural research and technological innovation organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean 
The general objective of this project is to create awareness by building capacities for the incorporation of information within the planning and execution of institutional processes and for taking maximum advantage the possibilities that offer available ICT. 

The target beneficiaries are a) decision makers of the agricultural research and technological innovation organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean, belonging to the Forum for the Americas on Agricultural Research and Technology Development (FORAGRO); b) coordinators or managers of technical information and communication within these organizations.

The expected results of the project have been identified as follows:

• 100% of the beneficiaries of the project have received basic training on how to incorporate information within the planning and execution of institutional processes.
• 100% of the beneficiaries of the project are better able to take advantage of the possibilities offered by information and communication technologies (ICT), in support of processes of technical knowledge management.
• Formal mechanisms to share experiences in management of technical information among the agricultural research and technological innovation organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean have been developed.
• A permanent program for training in technical information management for agricultural research and technological innovation organizations of Latin America and the Caribbean is in place.
• The program for International Certification in Technical Information Management has been created.