Fundaciat Holds its First Executive Council Meeting

The first task its Executive Council had to face as a team was to specify the Foundation’s mission, potential, challenges, and scope. The Council held its inaugural session on Thursday, 9 September 2010, at CIAT’s facilities in Palmira, Valle del Cauca, Colombia.

 The principal members of the Executive Council present at the first meeting were:

• Francisco Piedrahíta, Rector, ICESI University
• Carlos Iván Cardozo, Vice-Rector, National University–Palmira
• Francisco Villegas, Oriente, S.A.
• Harold Eder, Manager, Manuelita Group (represented by Alejandro García)
• Ana Isabel Vargas, Coordinator, Agronatura Scientific Park
• Ruben G. Echeverría, Director General, CIAT

 Special guests also attended the inaugural session:

• César A. Echeverry, Director, Division of Technology Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia
• Martha Cecilia Gualteros, Director, Fundación Progresamos, Chamber of Commerce, Palmira
• Diego Fernando Saavedra, Director, Inter-Association Civic Committee, Chamber of Commerce, Palmira
• Manuel Madriñán, COMFANDI
• Carlos Eduardo Vargas, Executive Director, Fundación SFBD
• María del Pilar Lozano, Fiscal Auditor, J.M. Cuadros Consultants, S.A.
• Patricia Holguín, Fiscal Auditor, J.M. Cuadros Consultants, S.A.

This important, diverse mix of leadership, talent, and experience ensured that, after three short but productive hours of work, key results were achieved for Fundaciat's future, thereby determining the likely impact of its work. Part of its mission would be to manage research, development, and innovation in favor of the food, agricultural, and agroindustrial sectors of Valle del Cauca and Colombia.

The Council moreover established the principles and values of Fundaciat as comprising knowledge, social and ethical responsibility, excellence, innovation, and solidarity.

In terms of the Foundation's broad potential, priority was given to (1) the promotion of complementary partnerships for the region’s sustainable development, and (2) the facilitation of transfer of research results to end users to help promote the real application of science, technology, and innovation. On the basis of these two axes, concrete projects and/or initiatives will be determined, thereby originating Fundaciat's plan of action for its first year of life.

Allusion was also made to the challenges that Fundaciat will face. These include efficient management of resources at national and international levels, the need to build and maintain confidence and credibility among its stakeholder groups, and the identification of business opportunities that will give rise to applied research.

The commitment and vitality expressed during the Executive Council's first meeting augur well for Fundaciat's future. The Foundation has every chance of becoming an entity that catalyzes and facilitates initiatives that will contribute to the sustainable and advantageous development of Valle del Cauca, Colombia, and the LAC region.