Ministers of Agriculture commend CATIE's Director General for his institutional achievements

• Ministers congratulate Muhammad Ibrahim for the achievements in research, education and external outreach.

November 30, 2023. In a meeting held on November 27, Muhammad Ibrahim, director general of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), presented his latest report to the Superior Council of Ministers.

During the session, the Ministers of Agriculture not only received the detailed report, but also expressed their recognition and congratulations to Ibrahim for the remarkable achievements of the institution in the areas of research, education and external projection.

Victor Carvajal, Costa Rica's Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, thanked Ibrahim for his eight years at the helm of CATIE, a period that will end on February 29, 2024.

"He has really done a valuable job and I emphasize that all these works and projects that have been carried out during these years are of impact for all member countries," commented the Minister.

"In research matters, resources are scarce, so I thank him for having left a CATIE with healthy finances and a high-level technical component. All the member countries have been very satisfied with all your work Muhammad," added Carvajal.

Belize's Minister of Agriculture, José Abelardo Mai, expressed his impressions after visiting CATIE months ago with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and praised the work done in cocoa and coffee research, as well as in agroforestry and sustainable agriculture.

Mai stressed the importance of attracting more students from the Caribbean to CATIE, given the relevance of these topics in the region. "I really congratulate Dr. Muhammad for the great work he has done," he said.

CATIE's Senior Council of Ministers is composed of ministers from member countries of the Center, the Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and a representative of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture. It is chaired by the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica, CATIE's host country.

CATIE's regular member countries are Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

Achievements in the three pillars

In his report, Ibrahim highlighted the progress and achievements in CATIE's three fundamental pillars: research, education and external projection.

During his presentation he shared several significant milestones, including the graduation of 72 people from 18 countries by 2023, with an outstanding 58% of female graduates. In addition, CATIE was recognized as the second best university in Costa Rica, according to the AD Scientific Index 2024. AD Scientific Index 2024.

The report also highlighted the importance of CATIE's strategic projects, which address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These projects include areas such as sustainable intensification of livestock, coffee and agroforestry, food security, watershed management and water security restoration, agribusiness, ecosystem-based adaptation, NAMA mitigation, landscape biodiversity, environmental economics, mangroves and blue carbon.

CATIE, in its 50th anniversary year, was also the organizer of significant events, such as the Latin American-Caribbean Cocoa Forum, which promotes a sustainable and modern cocoa culture.

It also participated in two side events during the Latin American and Caribbean Climate Week in Panama, as well as in the XII National Forestry Congress in Guatemala.

In addition, it hosted the VII Wallace Scientific Conference, in which 170 people from 20 countries and 70 institutions participated.

At this conference, a consensus was reached among participants to develop a roadmap to transform food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean in order to make them more sustainable, resilient, fair and nutritious.

At this same session of the Superior Council of Ministers, Dr. Luis Pocasangre Enamorado will be the new Director General of CATIE as of March 1, 2024.