Costa Rica's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock visited CATIE to promote joint work for the benefit of the country's producers

• In her capacity as Minister, she is also the President of CATIE's Superior Council.

August 1, 2022. The new Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, Laura Bonilla Coto, visited the CATIE campus in order to learn more about the work carried out by the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, CATIE, in the areas of research, education and external projection.

The visit began with a welcome by Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of the Center, where they discussed the role of the Presidency in CATIE's Superior Council, which is now led by Bonilla. Subsequently, a meeting was held with the participation of the team from the Research and Inclusive Green Development Division, the Education Division, the Strategic Alliances and Green Business Division, as well as the Commercial and Communications area.

In the first part of the session, the fundamental pillars of CATIE's work and value offer were presented, as well as how it promotes Inclusive Green Development, the lines of work in Food Security and Agro-biodiversity, Agro-forestry, Coffee and Cocoa, Livestock and Environmental Management, Water Security and Watersheds, Agribusiness, Climate Action. In addition, the impacts generated through the implementation of projects in Costa Rica and the region. In this space, each coordinator had the opportunity to present the work carried out by his or her thematic unit and to deepen the exchange of consultations and possibilities for joint work.

A tour of the campus was followed by a visit to the coffee and cocoa collections, the Goat Project implemented jointly with IICA with funds from the European Union, the Forest Seed Bank and the Environmental Modeling Laboratory, ending the tour at the Botanical Garden, to learn about the variety of forest, medicinal and fruit plants that it houses.

Catalina Fernandez Quesada, MAG Advisor and Guillermo Flores Marchena, Regional Director of Central Eastern Development also attended the visit.

Minister Bonilla said, "I am very impressed with the work of CATIE's team of professionals and I am open to the possibilities of joint work and coordination between the ministry and the center in order to contribute to the efforts of the country's producers".