Field tour in Chiapas showcases how science translates into real solutions for tropical agriculture

• During the International Tropical Agriculture Event, participants learned firsthand about sustainable livestock, biosecurity, and applied research experiences that strengthen the sector’s resilience and productivity.

Within the framework of the International Event “Sustainable, Inclusive and Competitive Tropical Agriculture: Critical Pathway for Mexico and the Americas”, the field technical tours held on April 29 allowed participants to gain first-hand insight into how science, innovation, and cooperation are translated into concrete practices to transform tropical agriculture in the region.

Among the visits was a tour led by CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), in coordination with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), to Rancho La Ceiba of Ganadería El Zapoteco, located in the municipality of Villa Comaltitlán, Chiapas, where the experience of the Gómez De Lucio family in sustainable livestock production was presented.

Sustainable livestock from the territory

During the visit, Mr. Alejandro Gómez and his son Hiram Gómez shared with participants the practices implemented on their farm, aimed at improving productivity, sustainability, and animal welfare.

Among the technologies and approaches presented were:

• Silvopastoral systems with dispersed trees in pastures and live fences
• Rotational grazing and alley grazing in mango production systems
• Genetic improvement in registered Sardo Negro cattle
• Application of good livestock practices in pasture management and paddocks, as well as animal welfare

These practices have been strengthened through knowledge transfer processes promoted by CATIE, demonstrating how applied research can generate concrete impacts in productive units.

La jornada técnica fue acompañada por especialistas como Claudia Sepúlveda, líder de la Unidad de Ganadería y Manejo del Ambiente del CATIE, y Leticia Deschamps, coordinadora de proyectos del IICA en México, quienes explicaron los fundamentos técnicos y los beneficios de estos sistemas para la climate resilience y la sostenibilidad productiva.

Biosecurity and innovation for crop protection

As part of the field activities, a visit was also conducted to the Moscafrut Biofactory in Metapa de Domínguez, where participants learned about mass-rearing techniques for insects used in biological pest control through the sterile insect technique.

This biotechnology makes it possible to reduce pest populations without the use of agrochemicals, contributing to the protection of strategic crops such as mango, papaya, and citrus, while strengthening plant health in the region.

Laura Benegas, Director of Research for Inclusive Green Development at CATIE, participated in this tour.

Applied research for tropical development

The tour also included a visit to the INIFAP Experimental Field in Tuxtla Chico, where advances in applied research on tropical crops such as coffee, cacao, mango, plantain, and papaya were presented.

Main research areas include genetic improvement, biotechnology, plant health, soil and water management, as well as climate resilience strategies aimed at strengthening food sovereignty.

Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, participated in this activity, strengthening the link between scientific research and territorial decision-making.

From knowledge to action

The field technical visits constituted a key component of the event, allowing participants to connect academic content with real-world experiences in the field, strengthening the link between research, producers, and decision-making.

These tours demonstrate that transforming tropical agriculture requires not only dialogue and strategic planning, but also the implementation of concrete solutions adapted to local conditions and built in collaboration with territorial stakeholders.

In this way, cooperation between CATIE and IICA continues to position itself as a key driver for advancing innovation, sustainability, and resilience in agri-food systems across Mexico and the Americas.