Panama is looking to improve its livestock industry by using genetics from the United States. The Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) signed an agreement with the United States Livestock Genetics Export Association (USLGE) to promote the use of livestock genetics on farms in the country. The agreement was signed by Minister Roberto Linares and the representative for Latin America of the USLGE, Carlos Peña, with the backing of the United States Department of Agriculture. The idea is to establish a technical and information exchange so that producers can make clearer decisions on how to improve their livestock. According to authorities, the initiative will directly benefit small producers, technicians, and rural workers. According to the 2024 National Agricultural Census, Panama has around 1.91 million head of cattle, of which 1.4 million are cattle and more than 508,000 are pigs, figures that reflect the weight of the livestock sector in the country.
