NZ‑backed experts partner with Panama in final phase of Central American agricultural climate action
13 March 2026 | See similar article in Spanish here
The Government of New Zealand, through its Climate‑Smart Agriculture (CSA) Initiative, is proud to support the final phase of a regional project aimed at improving the quantification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the agricultural sector across Central America.
As part of this effort, New Zealand collaborated closely this week with Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA), the Ministry of Environment, the University of Panama, and the National Cattle Ranchers Association (ANAGAN). The partnership forms part of a broader programme delivered through the Central American Agricultural Council (SECAC) to strengthen national capabilities for measuring and reporting agricultural emissions.
Deepening Technical Capacity
During the mission in Panama, New Zealand‑supported experts worked alongside local technical teams in a workshop designed to improve the country’s data and methodologies used to estimate agricultural GHG emissions. The session brought together knowledgeable stakeholders from across Panama’s agricultural sector to refine national datasets and ensure alignment with international best practice.
New Zealand’s NZCSA representative, Nicolás Costa, noted that the initiative plays a critical role in empowering countries within the Central American Integration System (SICA) to enhance their national GHG inventories. “By strengthening technical capabilities and supporting consistent methodologies, we are helping partner countries build more accurate, robust reporting systems that support effective climate action,” Costa said.
A Two‑Stage Regional Effort
The project includes two major phases:
Phase One (2023-2025): Capacity building, including a launch workshop in Panama attended by agricultural leaders, and regional training held in Costa Rica for SICA‑member agricultural ministries.
Phase Two (2026): Targeted methodological improvements in selected countries—Panama among them—focused on enhancing key agricultural emissions categories and increasing the precision of emissions calculations.
This phase also includes the development of implementation roadmaps to guide further improvements beyond the project’s duration.
Strengthening Regional Climate Responses
Participants from participating institutions emphasized that the support from New Zealand will help Panama advance its climate policy agenda, improve national emissions inventories, and strengthen the design and monitoring of agricultural mitigation actions. ANAGAN representatives highlighted that the collaboration will help develop improved livestock feeding strategies that reduce methane emissions while supporting more productive and resilient farming systems.
For further information:
Government of New Zealand Climate‑Smart Agriculture Initiative, SECAC Project.
