Specialists of the CIENPINOS project from Cuba carry out a working mission in Costa Rica

• During the visit, they developed the 2025 science plan for the project, among other collaborative activities with CATIE.

A delegation of specialists from the project “Municipal Climate Governance and Sustainable Agroforestry Production of Low-Emission, Climate-Adapted Food in Cienfuegos and Pinar del Río, Cuba” (CIENPINOS) visited the campus of the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) in Turrialba, Costa Rica to participate in a series of key activities for the initiative, especially the development of the science plan for the year 2025.

The delegation, led by the project's international coordinator, Ismael Hernández Venereo, also included specialists Tania Sánchez, Mildrey Soca, Yhosvanny Pérez, Álvaro Calzada, Isyoel Urrutia and Armando Pi. Eduardo Somarriba, researcher at CATIE's Agroforestry and Genetic Improvement of Coffee and Cacao Unit (UAMCC), also participated in the development of the science plan.

The team had a technical meeting with Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, to discuss the progress of the CIENPINOS Project and also held exchanges with leaders and technical staff from different CATIE units, including Rolando Cerda, leader of the UAMCC.

In addition, with Alfredo Zamarripa, dean of the Graduate School, the inclusion of the project results in the teaching of the Silvopastoral Systems course was discussed; and with Adriana Escobedo, leader of the Unit for Environmental Economics and Sustainable Agribusiness (UEAAS/EfD), preparations for a diploma course in agribusiness were discussed.

Finally, with researchers Arlene López-Sampson and Luc Villain of the Latin American Agroforestry Scientific Network (Agroforesta), a presentation of the experiences of the CIENPINOS Project in a SemSem (webinar) of this network was planned.

Through these activities “the CIENPINOS Project is consolidating itself as a pioneering initiative in the integration of innovative agroforestry practices, contributing to food security and sustainable rural development in Cuba,” said the international coordinator, Ismael Hernández.

On Friday 28th, the delegation participated in the workshop “Tools for monitoring the habitat and populations of feral pigs” at the School of Environmental Sciences of the National University of Costa Rica (UNA). The CIENPINOS team's visit also included a tour at the CATIE Botanical Garden Dr. Jorge León Arguedas, as well as a visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Costa Rica.