CATIE recognizes the leadership of Dr. Manuel Otero and his contribution to the development of tropical agriculture in the Americas

• The Center honored the IICA Director General for his trajectory, his contribution to tropical agriculture, and his legacy as an outstanding alumnus

On December 11, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) held an institutional recognition ceremony for Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in a space for dialogue that highlighted his leadership and his trajectory in favor of tropical agriculture and agri-food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean.

During the event, CATIE’s Director General, Dr. Luis Pocasangre, and the Dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Alfredo Zamarripa, presented Dr. Otero with a recognition for his contribution to positioning tropical agriculture and strengthening higher education in agriculture throughout the Americas. His role as a distinguished CATIE alumnus and his ongoing commitment to technical cooperation, innovation, and capacity building in the region were also highlighted.

“This is a historic day for CATIE because we are honoring a prolific son of this Graduate School, Dr. Otero. He is an outstanding graduate of this school, and we should feel very proud because he has represented us and held the highest positions in agriculture at the hemispheric level. Moreover, I am very grateful for all the support I have received from him, as Director of IICA, during my tenure,” stated Dr. Pocasangre.

The recognition was also extended to architect Amanda Fernández, wife of Dr. Otero, for her contribution to the design and modernization of the Orton Memorial Library, one of CATIE’s emblematic spaces.

As part of the institutional event, a commemorative plaque was unveiled at CATIE’s Graduate School, marking the establishment of the Inter-American Chair in Tropical Agriculture Dr. Manuel Otero, a tribute symbolizing the IICA Director General’s legacy and his contribution to the training of new generations in tropical agriculture.

Moved by the occasion, Dr. Otero expressed his gratitude for the recognition and emphasized the formative value of CATIE in his professional and personal trajectory: “Thank you very much, everyone. I knew that coming here would be an emotionally intense day, but I did not expect so many expressions of friendship and affection—something we sincerely appreciate. One thing I have never regretted, and am very proud of, is that completing a master’s degree at CATIE is much more than studying and acquiring knowledge; it is something that impacts you culturally, surrounded by friends with whom you share many paths throughout your professional life.”

The ceremony reaffirmed the importance of coordinated work between international organizations and academic institutions to promote rural development and tropical agriculture in the Americas, highlighting Dr. Otero’s contribution as one of the most influential leaders in hemispheric technical cooperation.