Belize Seeks to Strengthen Its Dairy Sector Through CATIE-Supported Experiences in Costa Rica

• A delegation from the Caribbean nation explored experiences in cattle genetic improvement, dairy production, and milk processing to promote more productive, resilient, and climate-adapted production systems.

Belize continues to explore alternatives to strengthen its dairy sector through technologies adapted to tropical conditions. To this end, a delegation of representatives from the country's livestock sector visited Costa Rica during the week of July 13–17 to learn about experiences in cattle genetic improvement, dairy production, and milk processing. The technical mission was organized with the support of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), in coordination with the Central American Genetic Research Center (CIGAC) and livestock producers from Costa Rica's Huetar Norte and Chorotega regions.

The delegation included Belize's former Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, José Abelardo Mai; William Usher, Director of the Belize Livestock Producers' Association; and a committee of five livestock producers from northern Belize. The visit provided participants with first-hand knowledge of production models developed in Costa Rica that could contribute to the development of a more efficient, sustainable, and climate-resilient dairy industry in Belize.

During the mission, participants visited CIGAC, dairy farms using tropical-adapted crossbreeds—including Gyrolando, Guzolando, and Gyrsey—as well as livestock operations in the Chorotega region. They also toured a milk processing plant to learn about food safety, quality control, and packaging processes, and attended Expo Liberia, where they observed different Zebu cattle breeds used for both milk and beef production.

For former Minister Mai, the mission represented an opportunity to identify practical solutions to address the current challenges facing Belize's dairy sector.

"The technical tour allowed us to evaluate production systems under conditions very similar to those in Belize and to confirm the strong potential of crossbreeds such as Gyr × Holstein and Guzerá × Holstein. This experience reinforces our belief that these alternatives can make a significant contribution to the future of Belize's dairy industry," he said.

Mai also expressed his appreciation to CATIE for coordinating the mission, providing technical support, and facilitating collaboration with Costa Rican institutions and livestock producers who made this knowledge exchange possible.

The delegation also learned about advanced genetic improvement technologies, including the use of embryo transfer to accelerate the development of animals with greater productivity and adaptation to tropical environments. In addition, participants exchanged experiences on feeding strategies, nutritional management, and production practices that help increase productivity while strengthening the resilience of livestock systems to heat stress and other impacts of climate change.

In the area of dairy processing, participants analyzed producer-scale models for food safety, quality control, and packaging systems. These experiences could help improve product quality, generate greater added value, and enhance the competitiveness of Belize's dairy sector.

One of the mission's main outcomes was the identification of viable technological alternatives to support the sustainable development of Belize's dairy industry, validated through direct observation of production systems operating under conditions similar to those found in Belize.

The visit also helped establish a technical exchange network among producers, researchers, and specialists from Belize and Costa Rica, aimed at facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technologies for the advancement of tropical livestock production.

CATIE played a strategic role in organizing and supporting the mission by coordinating collaboration with CIGAC and leading Costa Rican livestock producers. Its leadership helped focus the exchange on high-impact solutions for tropical environments, with emphasis on genetic improvement, dairy productivity, climate change adaptation, and technology transfer to strengthen the development of Belize's livestock sector.

The knowledge gained during this mission provides a foundation for strengthening future cooperation between Belize and Costa Rica, promoting the adoption of tropical-adapted technologies that contribute to improved productivity, milk quality, and the sustainability of livestock systems across the region.