CATIE Drives Agricultural Transformation in Costa Rica Together with PROCOMER and Strategic Partners

• Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, participated as a speaker at the PROCOMER Agro Transformation Conference at TEC, San Carlos

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) took part in the Agro Transformation Conference organized by the Costa Rican Foreign Trade Promoter (PROCOMER), held at the campus of the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC) in San Carlos.

The event brought together representatives from the public, private, and academic sectors to discuss the future of agriculture in the country and the Latin American region. Among the participating institutions were: the National Banana Corporation (CORBANA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the CRUSA Foundation, the University of Costa Rica (UCR), EARTH University, TEC, and CATIE.

Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, participated as a keynote speaker, highlighting the strategic value of plantain cultivation within its triad of agroindustry, export, and local consumption, promoting its positioning as a key superfood for Costa Rica and Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

"Transforming agriculture requires effective coordination among the public and private sectors, academia, and international organizations. PROCOMER, through initiatives like this, establishes itself as a key driver in strengthening these alliances," said Dr. Pocasangre.

At the same event, CATIE’s agribusiness team, led by Adriana Escobedo, actively participated with an informational stand showcasing higher education opportunities in sustainable agribusiness offered by the institution to the region.

The conference also served as an opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the TEC campus in San Carlos, recognized for its significant contributions to the training of agronomy professionals in Costa Rica.