CIENPINOS Project strengthens alliances and projects sustainability ahead of its closure in 2026

• The visit helped articulate relationships between different units of CATIE and expand cooperation with national and international academic and scientific institutions, consolidating progress in climate governance, sustainable production, and capacity building.

From March 8 to 15, 2026, a delegation from the CIENPINOS project from Cuba carried out a working mission in Costa Rica, with the objective of consolidating strategic alliances with the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE), the Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC), and other key partners, in order to ensure the sustainability of the project’s results in its final phase, scheduled for December 2026.

During the week of activities, the team held meetings with specialists, researchers, and academic authorities to follow up on the project’s main components, assess progress, and define new lines of cooperation.

Among the most relevant milestones was the planning of the Bioacoustics Course, in coordination with TEC, which will take place from April 6 to 10, 2026. This training space will address the analysis of sound signals applied to agricultural production, wildlife monitoring, and animal health, incorporating innovations such as the study of acoustic flow in production systems.

Likewise, a comprehensive review of the status of the CIENPINOS project was conducted, including its technical and financial implementation, in compliance with the commitments established with the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). In this context, the 2026 Annual Operational Plan was adjusted to respond to current challenges and ensure the successful closure of the project.

In the scientific field, progress was made in the preparation of technical reports, communication products, and publication strategies in specialized journals. Actions were also defined for the systematization of the knowledge generated, including the publication of an institutional series that will preserve the results, experiences, and cultural expressions associated with the project.

Institutional coordination and new alliances

The mission also strengthened coordination with several CATIE units, such as Agroforestry and Genetic Improvement of Coffee and Cacao; Climate Action; and Environmental Economics and Agribusiness. Progress in climate governance, sustainable production, and capacity building was highlighted, and follow-up was given to the Diploma Program in Sustainable Management (GESEC), aimed at Cuban stakeholders, whose completion is scheduled for April 2026.

As part of the project’s cooperation and synergy actions, links were established with the Center for Scientific and Technological Research of Extremadura (CICYTEX) and the University of Extremadura, Spain, among other institutions and countries, opening new opportunities for the development of joint initiatives in the Mediterranean–Caribbean sphere. Exchanges were also held with the National University (UNA), expanding prospects for collaboration in the upcoming period.

As a result of the mission, key agreements were defined related to specialized training, the completion of academic programs, joint scientific production, the establishment of new strategic alliances, and progress in logistical processes to support producers in prioritized territories.

The agenda also included a meeting at the Embassy of Cuba in Costa Rica, where the main results of the mission were shared and actions for institutional support were coordinated.

The mission achieved its objectives of strengthening scientific and technical exchange, consolidating the progress of the CIENPINOS project, and outlining a clear roadmap for its final phase. The results achieved reinforce the commitment to climate governance, technological innovation, and sustainable agroforestry development, ensuring the continuity of its impacts beyond 2026.