South–South Collaboration: A Necessity for Agricultural Transformation

At the World Food Prize Foundation’s DialogueNEXT in New Delhi, Mr. Victor Manuel Villalobos Arámbula, Member of the Council of Advisors and Special Envoy of the Secretary of Agriculture, Government of Mexico, highlighted the urgent need for collective action in agriculture.

“When we speak about agriculture today, we cannot ignore the reality of climate change, degraded lands, water scarcity, and the limited access of small farmers to finance and technologies. These challenges affect millions living in poverty,” he said. “In this context, South–South collaboration is not just an option—it is a necessity.”

Drawing on history, Mr. Villalobos underlined that the Green Revolution was not a one-way transfer of technology but a process of co-creation. “Icons like Norman Borlaug and M.S. Swaminathan worked hand in hand, ensuring that innovations were adapted, adopted, and owned by countries like India and the Philippines. They were not passive recipients of knowledge but active architects of transformation. That is the legacy we must carry forward today.”

Highlighting the strengths of the Global South, he noted its rich agrobiodiversity, indigenous knowledge, and context-specific technologies, as well as the shared agroecological and socio-economic conditions that enable meaningful exchanges of innovation.

Citing an example from Mexico, he pointed to MasAgro, a flagship initiative that has successfully developed climate-smart technologies to improve soil health, enhance productivity, and strengthen resilience. “MasAgro has already benefited several Central American countries. Now, imagine reconnecting MasAgro’s experience with India’s own agricultural innovation journey. Together, we can create joint solutions for climate adaptation, resource-use efficiency, plant health management, and much more. The possibilities are immense.”

For this vision to succeed, however, he stressed that collaboration must move from ideas to action. “We need implementation. We need to act, and we need to act together. Collaboration must move beyond words into practice.”

Mr. Villalobos called for renewed solidarity and innovation across the Global South. “The future of agriculture, food security, and our shared prosperity depends on it.”