CATIE receives delegation from nine Caribbean countries as part of the tropical agriculture platform

• Ministers of Agriculture from the OECS took part in a technical visit to the campus and explored training opportunities in tropical agriculture

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) received a technical and ministerial delegation from nine member countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), as part of a specialized training process on biosecurity measures against Tropical Race 4 of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (TR4), also known as Panama Disease, one of the main phytosanitary threats to banana and plantain crops worldwide.

During the training, participants conducted field visits that emphasized the implementation of preventive practices under the principle of “Enter clean, leave clean” as a key tool to prevent the introduction of the fungus into territories that are still free of the disease. Currently, TR4 is not present in the Eastern Caribbean countries, making such preventive actions essential to protect their agricultural production.

Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, welcomed the delegation, expressing his pleasure at receiving them at the headquarters and reaffirming the Center’s interest in strengthening working relationships and cooperation with Caribbean countries. He also acknowledged the Ministers and senior agriculture officials present. Among them:

• Dwayne Hixson, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, Environment, Youth Affairs and Sports – Montserrat
• Walter Christopher, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries and the Blue Economy – Antigua and Barbuda
• Miguel Flemming, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Marine Resources – Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Alfred Prospere, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development – Saint Lucia
• Lennox Andrews, Minister of Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives – Grenada

Dr. Pocasangre also thanked Dr. Manuel Otero, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), for his efforts in making this high-level technical visit possible.

During their visit, the representatives held meetings with CATIE authorities to learn more about the professional training programs, including master’s degrees in tropical agriculture, diploma programs, and specializations in key areas for the sustainable agricultural development of the Caribbean region.

As part of these efforts, opportunities were established for professionals from OECS member countries to access training programs at CATIE, including master's degrees, diplomas, specializations, and short courses, thereby strengthening the region’s technical capacities.

This activity highlights CATIE’s active role in capacity building, phytosanitary prevention, and regional cooperation, contributing to the response to emerging sanitary challenges, the protection of production systems, and the technical development of allied Caribbean countries.