CATIE participates in the Inauguration of Climate-Smart Greenhouses by INTA

• The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock indicated that, in terms of research, collaborative work between state institutions and other organizations like CATIE is what enables significant results.

Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), took part in the inauguration of two cutting-edge climate-smart greenhouses at the Los Diamantes Experimental Station of INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Innovation and Transfer of Technology), in Guápiles de Limón.

The event also saw the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Víctor Carvajal Porras, the Executive Director of INTA, Roberto Camacho Montero, the Chief Country Officer of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (BCIE), Álvaro Alfaro Gutiérrez, and Jong Heung Pará, representative of Kaist-Park (Republic of Korea).

The ceremony held this Tuesday, April 16th, marked an important moment in international collaboration for agricultural development, with funding for the climate-smart greenhouse project provided by Korea.

The greenhouses, each covering an area of 800 square meters, are equipped with cutting-edge technology to monitor and control various climatic parameters such as temperature, solar radiation, wind speed and direction, as well as rainfall. This information is centralized and stored in a control room, allowing for detailed analysis that contributes to decision-making.

The technology implemented in these greenhouses allows for the adjustment of the internal environment according to the needs of the crops, precisely controlling temperature and humidity. Additionally, internet connectivity enables remote access from anywhere in the world, including Korea, where thousands of similar devices are in operation.

Teamwork

Dr. Pocasangre highlighted the importance of these greenhouses for the present and future of Costa Rican agriculture and expressed his pleasure at the invitation extended by the Costa Rican government. "My presence here is clear evidence of my interest and commitment to working closely with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock of Costa Rica and likewise with its research entity, INTA," he said.

"CATIE works for the improvement of the living conditions and productivity of the country's producers; that is the goal of CATIE's General Directorate, and here it is demonstrated that different institutions have the same aim," he concluded.

demonstrated that different institutions have the same aim," he concluded. Roberto Camacho, Executive Director of INTA, thanked Dr. Pocasangre's presence as an example of reinforcing friendship and ties between diverse institutions. "Currently, we face great challenges, and the only way to address them is through cooperation, working together to address and provide solutions to the major problems of our time," he mentioned.

The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock indicated that in research matters, collaborative work is what enables significant results. "These greenhouses that we have here at the station, we hope that they will not only benefit the ministry but also other organizations like CATIE or institutions like the University of Costa Rica. We are very happy that CATIE is here today and that in the future we can have some joint projects that I know will have a positive impact on the region," Carvajal pointed out.

The greenhouses, currently housing tomato and chili crops, are a clear example of the commitment of the Costa Rican government and various institutions to promote sustainable development and innovation in the agricultural sector. Dr. Pocasangre's visit was praised as a symbol of this collaboration and dedication to the benefit of the country's farmers.