{"id":41303,"date":"2026-04-28T10:48:04","date_gmt":"2026-04-28T16:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/?p=41303"},"modified":"2026-04-28T10:55:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T16:55:48","slug":"agricultura-tropical-sostenible-actores-regionales-avanzan-en-la-construccion-de-una-ruta-critica-para-mexico-y-las-americas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/2026\/04\/28\/agricultura-tropical-sostenible-actores-regionales-avanzan-en-la-construccion-de-una-ruta-critica-para-mexico-y-las-americas\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable tropical agriculture: regional actors advance in the construction of a critical pathway for Mexico and the Americas"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em><em>The event advances a regional agenda to transform tropical agriculture through innovation and cooperation.<\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/li><\/ul><p>The international event, held in Tapachula, Chiapas, brings together specialists, authorities, and stakeholders from the agri-food sector to promote sustainable, inclusive, and competitive solutions through science, innovation, and regional cooperation.<\/p><p>Within the framework of cooperation between CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), with the support of the Secretariat of Agriculture of Chiapas, the International Event \u201cSustainable, Inclusive and Competitive Tropical Agriculture: Critical Pathway for Mexico and the Americas\u201d is being held in Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico, as a strategic space aimed at strengthening the transformation of the agri-food sector in the region.<br><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" data-id=\"41306\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX2-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" data-id=\"41307\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX3-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure><\/figure><p><br>Over three days, the event brings together representatives from governments, international organizations, the private sector, academia, and producers, who participate in conferences, high-level panels, technical dialogue spaces, and field visits, with the objective of jointly building a roadmap for sustainable agricultural development for the 2026\u20132030 period.<\/p><p>The opening ceremony brought together authorities and leaders from the sector, including Mr. Marco Antonio Barba Arrocha, Secretary of Agriculture of Chiapas; Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim, Director General of IICA; Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE; Ms. Beatriz Paredes, IICA Goodwill Ambassador; as well as representatives from SEDARPA and SEDAGRO of the states of Morelos and Veracruz, and Diego Montenegro, IICA Representative in Mexico.<\/p><p>In this context, Secretary Arrocha highlighted the productive potential of the territory and the inclusive vision promoted by the state:<\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cTapachula is a land with a strong agricultural vocation, with high fertility and enormous opportunities to produce quality food and compete nationally and internationally. We have important producers of banana and mango, but the focus is clear: to work hand in hand with small, medium, and large producers. We are committed to an inclusive productive chain that allows new generations of farmers, livestock producers, and rural workers to have a dignified life.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-2 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" data-id=\"41308\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX4-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"581\" data-id=\"41309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX6-600x410.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure><\/figure><p><br>For his part, Dr. Ibrahim emphasized that this event is part of a broader process of regional articulation: <br><\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cThis event is not isolated; it responds to the consolidation of a hemispheric platform for tropical agriculture. Our technical mission is clear: we must move from traditional models to a model of sustainable intensification, and Chiapas has the resources to become a laboratory that demonstrates how to advance toward solutions that can be replicated throughout the region.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p><br>He also highlighted the operational nature of this joint agenda:<\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cTogether with CATIE, as a technical arm, we are not seeking only concepts, but a portfolio of initiatives and follow-up mechanisms that give life to the Chiapas Declaration 2026. Our goal is to have a critical roadmap for 2026\u20132030 that guides technical cooperation, innovation, and public policies across the tropical regions of the Americas.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p><br>Dr. Pocasangre emphasized CATIE\u2019s role in generating applied science-based solutions:<\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cAt CATIE, we focus on education and applied research as the foundation for transforming agri-productive systems. We promote concrete actions in areas such as sustainable livestock, watersheds, coffee, cacao, plantain, and banana, with the objective of bringing solutions from science to the territory.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p><br>He also highlighted the strategic value of this new phase of cooperation with IICA:<\/p><blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cThis alliance strengthens our capacity to articulate knowledge, innovation, and field action. We work to ensure that results reach those who need them most, especially producers, whom we recognize as the central axis of these processes.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><p><br><br>As part of CATIE\u2019s participation in the event, the interventions of Laura Benegas, Director of Research for Inclusive Green Development and watershed specialist, and Claudia Sep\u00falveda, leader of the Livestock and Environmental Management Unit, also stand out, as they share CATIE\u2019s experiences in these strategic areas for the sustainability of production systems in the region.<br><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX8-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure><p><br>The event addresses key topics such as technological innovation, financing for sustainable development, climate resilience, productive inclusion, and natural resource management, reflecting the need to advance toward more efficient, equitable, and climate-adapted agri-food systems.<\/p><p>The watershed-based development approach was another central element of the dialogue, highlighting its importance for integrated water management, soil conservation, and the resilience of production systems in the face of climate change. This approach, which has already been adopted by the state of Chiapas, enables the articulation and prioritization of actions at the territorial level, integrating production, conservation, and the well-being of rural communities.<\/p><p>Asimismo, durante el evento se destac\u00f3 la amenaza de la raza tropical 4 de <em>Fusarium fungus<\/em> (TR4), enfermedad que afecta al banano y al pl\u00e1tano, y que representa un riesgo significativo para la producci\u00f3n en la regi\u00f3n. Productores manifestaron su inter\u00e9s en fortalecer medidas de prevenci\u00f3n y bioseguridad, considerando que el banano es uno de los principales rubros econ\u00f3micos del Soconusco, en el estado de Chiapas.<\/p><p>Likewise, the event highlighted the threat of Tropical Race 4 of Fusarium (TR4), a disease that affects banana and plantain, and which represents a significant risk to production in the region. Producers expressed their interest in strengthening prevention and biosecurity measures, considering that banana is one of the main economic activities in the Soconusco region in the state of Chiapas.<\/p><p>In this way, cooperation between CATIE and IICA is reaffirmed as a key catalyst for the development of comprehensive solutions that contribute to improving climate resilience, food security, and the well-being of rural communities in the Americas.<br><\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-2 is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\"><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"567\" data-id=\"41313\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX5-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"638\" data-id=\"41312\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9-16x12.jpg 16w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX9-600x450.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"850\" height=\"568\" data-id=\"41314\" src=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41314\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7.jpg 850w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Agricultura-tropical-MX7-600x401.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 850px) 100vw, 850px\" \/><\/figure><\/figure><p><br><br><br><br><\/p><div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><p><strong>More information:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Office of the Director General<br>CATIE<br><a href=\"mailto:dgcatie@catie.ac.cr\">dgcatie@catie.ac.cr<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\"><p><strong><strong>Written by:<\/strong>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p>Karla Salazar Leiva<br>Communicator<br>Communications and Marketing Office<br>CATIE<br><a href=\"mailto:karla.salazar@catie.ac.cr\">karla.salazar@catie.ac.cr<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/div><p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El evento internacional, desarrollado en Tapachula, Chiapas, re\u00fane a especialistas, autoridades y actores del sector agroalimentario para impulsar soluciones sostenibles, inclusivas y competitivas desde la ciencia, la innovaci\u00f3n y la cooperaci\u00f3n regional. En el marco de la cooperaci\u00f3n entre el &hellip; <\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":41304,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[567,105,232,119],"class_list":["post-41303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-agricultura-tropical","tag-catie","tag-iica","tag-mexico","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41303","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41303"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41303\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41320,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41303\/revisions\/41320"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41304"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41303"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41303"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.catie.ac.cr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41303"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}