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Hemispheric Fund for Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability in the Americas
-FoHRSA-

What is FoHRSA?

The Hemispheric Fund for Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability in the Americas is a pioneering financial initiative designed to bolster agricultural resilience and sustainability throughout the Americas.

In an era of increasing climate volatility, shocks and emergencies, FoHRSA is mobilizing critical resources and institutional green financing to empower countries -specially those with limited economic capacity- to adapt and thrive.

“Lower- and lower-middle-income economies risk losing 12% of their GDP to physical hazards, such as storms, floods and heat waves, by 2050 under a slow transition scenario if they do not adapt”. (S&P Global, 2024)

Programmatic approach

To support the growth of bioeconomy sectors, the focus in on designing policies and regulations that meet both national and international needs, while fostering market access, and promoting sustainable practices. By developing practical tools, providing direct technical support, and enhancing South-South cooperation and regional knowledge networks, this enables the sharing of best practices and lessons learned for effective policy implementation. Targeted investment projects for biobusinesses will also provide crucial resources for innovation and expansion, laying the groundwork for a resilient and inclusive bioeconomy.

Circular agriculture

To coordinate public and private efforts in the fight against soil degradation -a phenomenon that demands urgent and concerted action- it is essential to establish strategic partnerships to implement sustainable practices, restore affected areas and promote soil health as the basis for resilience and agricultural productivity.

Soil health

To build capacities and promote public-private strategic partnerships within IICA member countries, to improve integrated and efficient management of water use in agriculture.

Water - efficient systems

To drive the sustainable transformation of food systems by integrating renewable energy sources into all stages of production, processing, and distribution. This transition aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs and improve water efficiency, while building resilience against the price fluctuations and supply disruptions associated with fossil fuels. By embracing renewables, the aim is to create a food system that not only ensures food security but also promotes economic growth, particularly in rural areas, and conserves the natural resources that are essential for long-term agricultural sustainability. Ultimately, this shift positions food systems as a powerful contributor to global susteinable solutions, while fostering healthier, more resilient communities.

Transition to renewable energies in food systems

To drive widespread adoption of regenerative practices -such as conservation tillage, cover cropping, agroforestry, and crop diversity- that capture and store carbon in the soil and vegetation. This coordinated action will not only reduce atmospheric CO₂ but will enrich soil health and enhance crop resilience, water retention and biodiversity. By increasing carbon stocks in soil and vegetation, agriculture serves as a carbon sink, offsetting emissions from other sectors and improving resilience to weather event impacts. The objective is to harness the power of agriculture to curb greenhouse gas emissions and regenerate ecosystems, transforming the sector into a central pillar of global sustainable.

Carbon sequestration

In the IICA member countries, it is essential to strengthen the capacity for anticipation, response, and recovery in the face of extreme climate events, sanitary emergencies, and economic crises that impact agriculture and rural livelihoods. This line of action promotes the integration of comprehensive risk management into agricultural policies, along with the development of technical, financial, and organizational solutions that reduce the vulnerability of agrifood systems.

It supports the formulation of contingency plans, the timely provision of strategic inputs, the adoption of resilient farming practices, and access to protection mechanisms such as parametric insurance, emergency response funds, and early warning systems. Furthermore, it encourages partnerships among governments, the private sector, rural communities, and international organizations to ensure coordinated responses that safeguard productive continuity and contribute to food security across the region.

Disaster management