CATIE Strengthens Scientific Partnerships with Europe to Advance Research, Innovation, and Doctoral Training

• The participation of CATIE’s Director General in strategic meetings in Spain opened new opportunities for international cooperation in biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, food security, sustainable management of tropical crops, and scientific talent development.

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) strengthened its ties with European scientific and academic institutions through the participation of its Director General, Dr. Luis Pocasangre, in a mission carried out from June 18–20 in Alicante, Spain.

The agenda included participation in the advisory board of the CropSafe Project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, as well as working meetings aimed at consolidating new research partnerships, advancing international funding proposals, and expanding doctoral training opportunities for students and professionals affiliated with CATIE.

During the CropSafe advisory board sessions, specialists from various institutions analyzed opportunities to strengthen applied research in integrated pest and disease management, soil health restoration, and the use of bioproducts in agricultural systems. In this context, the possibility of conducting field trials at CATIE’s campus in Costa Rica was discussed to evaluate biological technologies for nematode control and the improvement of root health in tropical crops.

As part of the academic activities, Dr. Pocasangre delivered a lecture on innovations in integrated pest and disease management in tropical crops, highlighting the potential of bioproducts to reduce dependence on chemical inputs and promote more sustainable agricultural systems. During his presentation, he shared experiences developed by CATIE in collaboration with national institutions, including initiatives related to sustainable onion and potato production, as well as projects focused on developing banana production systems with reduced pesticide use.

Advancing New International Proposals

One of the mission’s most significant outcomes was progress in the formation of an international consortium to submit a Horizon Europe proposal focused on biodiversity and coffee agroforestry systems.

The initiative will be led by the University of Alicante and will include the participation of universities and research centers from Spain, France—including the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD)—Italy, Austria, Germany, and Poland, as well as CATIE as a strategic partner due to its scientific expertise and internationally recognized coffee collection. The project also envisions the participation of Latin American partners, with experimental sites in Costa Rica, Honduras, and Guatemala.

“These partnerships allow CATIE’s scientific expertise to be positioned within high-level international arenas while expanding collaboration opportunities to generate innovative solutions to global challenges related to agriculture, biodiversity, and climate change,” emphasized Dr. Pocasangre.

Expanding Opportunities for Doctoral Training

The mission also provided an opportunity to follow up on the Bioforce proposal, submitted to the European Union’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Programme, which aims to strengthen doctoral training and academic exchange between Europe and Latin America.

If approved, the initiative will enable doctoral students from European universities to conduct part of their research at CATIE, while CATIE-affiliated master’s and doctoral students will have opportunities to carry out research projects and academic stays at partner universities in Europe.

The results of this call for proposals are expected to be announced in September 2026.

New Partnerships for Regenerative Agriculture and Food Security

During his visit to Spain, CATIE’s Director General also met with European specialists to explore cooperation opportunities in regenerative agriculture, circular economy, decarbonization, and food security.

Among these discussions was an engagement with Leitat Technological Center, an organization based in Barcelona that has expressed interest in participating in future international consortia linked to European Commission funding calls focused on ecosystem sustainability and food systems.

The mission strengthened CATIE’s positioning as a strategic partner in international research and innovation initiatives while expanding opportunities to access new funding mechanisms, enhance human talent development, and generate applied knowledge to address the challenges of sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and food security in Latin America and the Caribbean.