CATIE Director General presents on the impact of TR4 at ACORBAT 2026

• The meeting brings together specialists, researchers, and stakeholders from the productive sector from multiple countries, consolidating itself as a key space for knowledge exchange on sustainable musaceae production.

The Director General of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), Dr. Luis E. Pocasangre, participated as a speaker at the LX Meeting of the Association for Cooperation in Research and Comprehensive Development of Musaceae (ACORBAT 2026), where he addressed the impact of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense Tropical Race 4 (TR4), known as Panama disease.

During his presentation, Dr. Pocasangre highlighted the evolution and spread of this fungus in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), recalling his experience leading the TR4 prevention campaign in the region. At that time, he explained, there was widespread skepticism about the ability of a soil-borne fungus to travel long distances.

“At that time, no one believed that a soil-borne fungus could travel more than 17,000 kilometers and cross oceans to reach Latin America and the Caribbean,” he stated.

Currently, the situation has changed significantly. TR4 is already present in at least four countries in the continent: Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador, demonstrating its capacity for dispersion and establishment in new territories.

The Director General of CATIE also warned about the colonization pattern of the fungus in the region, which shows expansion into a new country approximately every two years. In this context, he emphasized the importance of anticipating its arrival through preventive measures.

“Therefore, the most important message for producers is to protect their assets and implement biosecurity. Do not wait for the fungus to reach your country. Implement biosecurity now,” he emphasized, also noting that these practices are effective for managing other diseases such as Moko, which is present throughout the region.

Scientific and technical exchange

The ACORBAT 2026 meeting, held from April 20 to 23 in Mérida, Mexico, brings together specialists, researchers, and stakeholders from the productive sector from multiple countries, consolidating itself as a key space for knowledge exchange on sustainable musaceae production.

The event addresses priority topics such as plant health, innovation, sustainability, and competitiveness in the banana sector, with a particular emphasis on Tropical Race 4 (TR4), one of the main threats to global banana production.