Agricultural Resilience in Central America: A Key Tool for Prioritization and Action Against Climate Change

Central America, particularly the dry corridor, is facing various threats from climate change. Water scarcity and unpredictable rainfall patterns are jeopardizing agriculture, rural livelihoods, and the sustainability of  food systems. In response, Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has been working for over a decade through its Water and Soil for Agriculture (ASA) program, in collaboration with local and national partners, to improve crop yields and rural incomes. These efforts focus on restoring soil health and protecting water resources to build more climate resilient agricultural systems.

One of the early collaborative efforts between CRS and the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT was the TORTILLAS I project. This initiative used crop and climate modeling to assess the impact of climate change on maize and beans. A major lesson from this work was the critical value of spatial data in guiding local decision making and the need for targeted interventions in priority areas to improve farmer livelihoods.

Building on this foundation, and recognizing the need to expand the crop focus beyond maize and beans, a second phase was launched: “Tortillas fuera del Comal” (Tortillas of the Roster). This new initiative assessed 28 additional crops, significantly broadening the analytical base to help guide climate adaptation and agricultural transformation across Central America.