CATIE strengthens cooperation ties with the OAS 

• Representative of the OAS General Secretariat in Costa Rica visited CATIE's campus in Turrialba. 

In order to learn about CATIE's work and identify possibilities for cooperation, the representative of the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Costa Rica, Milagro Martínez Bonilla, visited CATIE's campus in Turrialba, Costa Rica, on Thursday, April 18. 

Martinez was received by the Director General of CATIE, Dr. Luis Pocasangre, who highlighted the close relationship between the two institutions, in addition to IICA (Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture) as part of the Inter-American System. "These are two institutions that have been pioneers since CATIE's inception. That is why we are very pleased to have these organizations working closely with us," said Dr. Pocasangre. 

The OAS representative witnessed the work of the Biotechnology Laboratory and visited the international coffee and cocoa collections located at CATIE's facilities. She also took a guided tour of the AgroInnova project's Agrosilvopastoral Goat Module and ended her visit at CATIE's Botanical Garden. During his stay he also met with the director of the Inclusive Green Research and Development Division, Dr. Laura Benegas.

"It has been a pleasant surprise to learn in detail about some of the projects that CATIE carries out and we are also looking at opportunities for cooperation that we could have between the OAS and CATIE to complement actions," stated Martinez. 

The Organization of American States is a multilateral organization founded in 1948 as a consolidation of the Inter-American System. It currently brings together 35 independent states of the Americas and its pillars are democracy, human rights, security and the development of its members.