Agreements with three Paraguayan universities and institutes mark CATIE Director General’s mission to Paraguay

• The mission, carried out from August 29 to September 5, included meetings with the Paraguayan government and participation as a speaker at the International Congress on Organic Agriculture in Asunción.

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) Director General Dr. Luis Pocasangre carried out a high-level mission to Paraguay, accompanied by Paraguay’s Ambassador to Costa Rica, the Honorable Julio Duarte. The purpose was to promote joint research, education, and training between Paraguay and CATIE, as well as to follow up on the country’s membership and explore opportunities for collaboration with government institutions, academia, and international organizations.

One of the most significant outcomes of the visit was the signing of academic and scientific cooperation agreements with the Paraguayan Institute of Agricultural Technology (IPTA), the National University of Asunción (UNA), and the Rural University of Paraguay (URP).

In the case of UNA, the agreement was signed during a ceremony on the university campus, attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Zully Vera de Molinas, the Vice Rector, and the deans of the university’s nine faculties as witnesses.

These agreements seek to promote the education of Paraguayan professionals at the master’s and doctoral levels through CATIE’s Graduate School, as well as faculty and student mobility in areas such as forest management, watershed management, agribusiness, and low-emission livestock production.

The mission also included meetings with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and the National Animal Health and Quality Service (SENACSA), where sustainable livestock production emerged as a key area for joint work, given the importance of beef in Paraguay’s exports.

Both institutions expressed interest in CATIE’s silvopastoral model and low-emission technologies. Discussions also addressed the possibility of developing a pilot project using Paraguayan genetics at CATIE’s Commercial Farm, as well as organizing an international congress on sustainable livestock production.

Together with the National Scholarship Program (BECAL) and Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, opportunities were explored to increase the number of Paraguayan students pursuing studies at CATIE, taking advantage of Paraguay’s status as a CATIE member country.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MADES) expressed interest in CATIE’s experience in forest management and restoration and in training park rangers. Discussions also continued on the possibility of converting part of Paraguay’s outstanding membership contributions into master’s degree scholarships and training opportunities for the country.

The mission coincided with the International Congress on Organic Agriculture, organized by the Inter-American Commission for Organic Agriculture (CIAO) and IICA in Asunción, where Dr. Pocasangre participated as a speaker and presented CATIE’s results in organic and regenerative agriculture in coffee, cocoa, bananas, and agroforestry systems, as well as the potential of sustainable livestock production as a low-emission system.

As part of the congress, the delegation met with IICA Representative in Paraguay Dr. Braulio Heinze and participated in a field day at the Manduvira Cooperative, the world’s largest organic sugarcane cooperative. They were accompanied by Paraguay’s Vice Minister of Family Farming, Mariela Duarte, who expressed interest in learning more about CATIE’s work.

With these results, CATIE is laying the groundwork for a new stage of collaboration with Paraguay in research, talent development, and the advancement of more sustainable agriculture and livestock production in the country.