CATIE’s International Plantain Congress: A key event for the future of plantain cultivation in Latin America and the Caribbean

• This event will become a continental benchmark in plantain production, transformation, marketing, and promotion of local consumption (Gastronomic Festival).

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) will host the First International Plantain Congress from August 26 to 28, 2025, at its campus in Turrialba, Costa Rica.

The gathering will bring together key actors from the plantain sector across Latin America and the Caribbean to promote knowledge sharing, partnerships, and strategies that contribute to the sustainability and innovation of this strategic crop.

Dr. Luis Pocasangre, CATIE’s Director General, explained that the event will offer attendees the opportunity to learn how to grow pesticide-free plantains through the use of Good Sustainable Practices (GSPs), such as zero tillage, hybrid fertilization, and the biological control of Black Sigatoka using microorganism-based products.

He also highlighted that one of the congress’s main objectives is to showcase the gastronomic versatility of plantains, “as they can be used to prepare traditional dishes like tostones or patacones, as well as gourmet plates,” he stated.

An event to learn, connect, and transform

The congress aims to position itself as a continental reference in topics related to plantain production, transformation, and commercialization.

Over the course of three days, participants will have access to:

• Keynote presentations by international experts
• Hands-on workshops on production, agroindustry, and public policy
• Networking spaces linking producers, businesses, academia, finance, and governments
• A commercial exhibition and innovation fair
• A Plantain Gastronomic Festival with live cooking demos and tastings led by renowned Dominican chef Alberto Morel, featuring plantain-based recipes

“We hope to welcome participants from across Latin America and the Caribbean, and to count on the valuable support of the private sector and research institutions committed to sustainable agri-food systems,” added Dr. Pocasangre.

Congress Themes

The program is structured around three main themes:

• Day 1: Plantain genetics and production
• Day 2: Agroindustry and gastronomy workshop
• Day 3: Policies and incentives for plantain production and export

The congress will feature distinguished panelists and speakers from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Among them are Prof. Dr. Rony Swennen (KUL Belgium and IITA Uganda), a global leader in plantain breeding; Ing. Gustavo Gandini from Banelino in the Dominican Republic; Ing. Diego Molina, a leading producer from Ecuador; and specialists from organizations such as DOLE, PROCOMER, INTA Costa Rica, and Grupo ALZU.

In addition, leading regional producers will participate in various discussion panels on production challenges, marketing, and access to financing, providing a comprehensive view from the field, industry, and public policy perspectives.

Registration and Participation

Those interested can now secure their spot through the official congress platform:
🔗 https://congresoplatano.catie.ac.cr

The general registration fee is USD 600 , which includes full access to all activities, lunches, coffee breaks, event materials, and tastings at the gastronomic festival. However, until June 30, 2025, you can take advantage of the early bird registration for only USD 450 + VAT, with all the same benefits included.

🎫 Registration includes:
• Access to all sessions and presentations
• Official event materials
• Daily coffee breaks and lunches (100% plantain-based)
• Breakfast (for those staying on campus)
• Welcome cocktail
• Closing dinner
• Digital certificate of participation

The congress also offers the opportunity to participate as an official sponsor, with various categories (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum) that provide benefits such as booths, institutional visibility, and event passes.