Latin America: From the Amazon to Mesoamerica - Women, Science, and Policy are Shaping Resilient Agri-food Systems in Latin America

Mar 19, 2026 | Mariana Callejas
CIMMYT
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Across Latin America, the transformation of agri-food systems is being driven by a powerful convergence: science, public policy, and the leadership of women farmers and Indigenous communities. From the Amazon to Mexico and Central America, this integrated approach is strengthening climate resilience, restoring ecosystems, and improving rural livelihoods.

At COP30 in Belém, Brazil—held at the gateway to the Amazon—this reality took center stage. During the panel “Voices for Climate and Nature: From the Amazon to Australia,” Indigenous leaders and women farmers shared a clear message: climate resilience is built in the territories, by the people who care for them every day. Their perspectives highlighted that sustainable agriculture is not only about technical solutions, but also about culture, identity, and ancestral knowledge. 

“We must remain united and continue cultivating native crops in ways that honor the land,” said Indigenous leader Puyr Tembé, reflecting a vision shared across rural communities in the region. 

These voices are closely aligned with CIMMYT’s work across Latin America, where scientific innovation is combined with local knowledge to co-create solutions. In Mexico, for example, partnerships with governments and the private sector are scaling regenerative practices that improve soil health, increase yields, and reduce water use, by up to 40% in some systems, while strengthening food security and rural economies.