Mexico and Central America strengthen regional coordination to deal with possible El Niño event.

Climate Risk Drives Regional Agricultural Resilience Building

International climate predictions indicate that the probability of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions forming in the coming months is as high as 80%. For Mexico and Central America, which rely on rainfed agriculture, this means a significantly increased risk of changing rainfall patterns, water scarcity, and reduced yields of staple crops. Against this backdrop, representatives from regional institutions, research centers, governments, and the private sector recently gathered in Texcoco, State of Mexico, to discuss how to address this potential threat through coordinated action.

The meeting was organized by the ASA2 Regional Assessment and Learning Council (CREA), which is part of the Catholic Relief Services' "Agriculture and Water Program" (ASA). Participating institutions included the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), the Executive Secretariat of the Central American Agricultural Council (SECAC), the Alliance of Bioversity International and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, DISAGRO, and the National Center for Agricultural and Forestry Technology of El Salvador (CENTA), among others. The meeting established five strategic areas: soil and water management, production and seeds, information and communication, institutional coordination, and financing and resource mobilization.

Strengthening Early Warning and Agronomic Response

One of the core outcomes of the meeting was the design of a regional monitoring mechanism to analyze the likelihood of ENSO occurrence and its potential impacts on key areas of the Central American Dry Corridor—particularly concerning agricultural production, water resources, and food security. This mechanism aims to generate timely analysis, identify priority areas, and help governments, agricultural enterprises, and technical institutions make more informed decisions under different scenarios.

Discussions prioritized key crops for regional food security: maize, beans, rice, wheat, sorghum, and livestock feed. These crops are critical for the food supply and production stability of thousands of rural communities. In terms of soil and water management, participants explored practices for water conservation, reducing land degradation, and lowering production vulnerability in affected areas. Regarding production and seeds, institutions worked to promote access to adapted varieties, adjust agricultural calendars, and provide agronomic recommendations to reduce production risks in the upcoming planting season, including rapid identification of available materials and farmers' access pathways.

Regenerative Agriculture and Science-Based Solutions

The meeting also focused on identifying and promoting practices proven through scientific evidence and past climate events to effectively enhance agricultural resilience, including: straw mulching and vegetation cover to retain soil moisture, use of adapted seeds and stress-tolerant varieties, and drought-resistant production alternatives such as crop diversification and legume cultivation. Additionally, climate risk-based fertilization strategies and efficient nutrient management were discussed to reduce economic losses under uncertain rainfall conditions. Post-harvest solutions were also mentioned, aiming to ensure grain storage conditions, reduce losses, and protect seed supplies and food reserves.

Information Dissemination and Funding Coordination

The meeting developed a communication strategy to translate technical recommendations into clear, practical information for farming communities, governments, agricultural enterprises, and the private sector.The meeting developed a communication strategy to transform technical recommendations into clear, practical information for farming communities, governments, agribusinesses, and the private sector. The goal is to strengthen response capacity through regional guidance tools and dissemination mechanisms, enabling earlier action before potential impact scenarios emerge.

In terms of institutional coordination and regional financing, participating institutions discussed how to align existing resources, guide public action, centralize projects, and mobilize funds to enhance regional preparedness and response. The meeting also showcased the region’s existing capabilities in research, agro-climatic monitoring, seed systems, regenerative agriculture, agronomic management, post-harvest storage, territorial analysis, and technical capacity building—all developed by institutions and partners currently working to strengthen agricultural resilience and food security across Central America and Mexico.