Learn more about the science, technology and innovation ecosystems co-financed by FONTAGRO. 

Agtech “Innovation for pasture management”

A platform for Uruguay, Argentina and Costa Rica that seeks to increase forage production by at least 30% through software that simplifies and optimizes pasture management decisions, with the results: 14,200 hectares being monitored, over 230 producers, over 1,200 capacity-building days and 44 experimental farms. By using satellite images and machine learning, this project aims at improving efficiency on biomass use, creating positive externalities to the environment.

Carbon sequestration opportunities in the soils of Latin America and the Caribbean. 

With the goal of increasing the organic carbon content of soils, a group of countries joined together in the search for agronomic management strategies that improve the carbon sequestration potential of agricultural systems. This initiative is part of the C-FARM (Carbon Farming Alliance for Research and Management) led by Rattan Lal. Reached over 400,000 beneficiaries, 5 opportunities were identified for carbon sequestration, 30 technicians have already been trained in the process, and over 1800 samples were analyzed. 

Prevention and management of Fusarium oxysporum RT4 in Musain Latin America and the Caribbean 

Fusarium oxysporum (Foc TR4) is a great threat for global Musa production such as bananas, plantains and abacá, endangering one of the main exports and economic pillars of Latin American and Caribbean countries. This project aims to standardize protocols for the diagnosis of Foc TR4 via new methods that enable detection in complex water and soil samples, among other actions.
Among its results, it stands out that 4872 people have been trained, 48 workshops were provided, and 6 technical videos were produced.

Controlled Environment Horticulture: the future of the horticulture  production 

Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and Panama have joined forces to improve the competitiveness of family agriculture horticultural systems through technological innovations for production under protected conditions, thus reducing vulnerability to climate change and increasing productive efficiency.  1,832 women, 2,128 men and 1,333 producers have been trained. In addition, 7 structures have been designed and 11 scientific articles have been published.

FONTAGRO at the 27th Annual Conference of the International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR)

The 27th Annual Conference of the International Consortium on Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) took place from July 4th to 7th and in which FONTAGRO participated remotely.
The ICABR Annual Conference gathered leading international experts to discuss advances in bioeconomy research and the process of global transition from traditional agriculture to a more resilient a sustainable model.

Dr Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, was invited to the panel discussion on July 7th together with experts from EMBRAPA, Dr Geraldo Martha and from the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture, Dr Keith Fuglie. During the presentation, the panel tackled key aspects of Total Factor Productivity, among them the importance of public investment in research and development. The importance of INTA was also highlighted for its role in improving productivity of the agricultural sector during recent decades.

With this in mind, Eugenia Saini presented FONTAGRO as a unique financing mechanism for public sector research, development and innovation for Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain. She explained that, in the last 25 years, FONTAGRO has not only maintained its capital but also managed to co-finance nearly 200 regional initiatives for over $138 million, providing an example of long-term public investment that produces important results in the development of knowledge and technologies for the region and the world. Furthermore, it has created inter- and multi-disciplinary networks of scientists, technicians, outreach workers, producers and other local and international actors.

FONTAGRO met with SE-CAC, FAO y CCAD-SICA to discuss innovation in the Central American Dry Corridor 

The Executive Secretary of the Central American Agricultural Council (CAC), the Central American Commission for Environment and Development (CCAD), FONTAGRO and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)held a virtual meeting with representatives of the regional Agricultural Research Institutes to discuss innovation for the dry corridor and arid zones. 

“Innovation for pasture management”, the project that seeks to increase harvest of pastures for grazing and reserves

Family Agriculture: its importance for the development of Latin America and the Caribbean

Innovative project for managing grass harvest

Family Agriculture: its importance for the development of Latin America and the Caribbean

VENEZUELA WORKSHOP 

Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, was invited to participate in a panel about “Current opportunities for financing research and training” during the IX Venezuelan Congress on Genetic Improvement and Agricultural Biotechnology (IX CONVEME) that took place in Yaracuy from July 26th to 28th. The panel was shared with FAO representatives. During the visit, FONTAGRO was able to meet with Venezuela’s Minister for Productive Agriculture and Land, Wilmar Castro Soteldo, and with INIA’s president, Giomar Blanco. During July 28th, FONTAGRO and IICA held a workshop where a joint plan of action in support of technical training and the joint development of FONTAGRO projects was defined. FONTAGRO is active in the country building cooperation in collaboration with and including the government, scientists indigenous organizations and farmers.

FONTAGRO’s Preparation and Publication of Scientific Works Course came to a successful close. 

The same as every year, FONTAGRO carried out technical training of scientists to increase applications for international research funding. The course was led by the Graduate School of the Faculty of Agronomy, Buenos Aires University, in agreement with FONTAGRO.
The objective was to strengthen the capacity to transform research studies in scientific articles for submission to high-level journals in order to empower the research of FONTAGRO’s projects.
More than 20 researchers participated from INIAs, Universities and institutions of FONTAGRO’s member countries. 

The National Director of Chile’s INIA stressed the importance of FONTAGRO for the Institute and for the country

Iris Lobos is the first woman in the history of Chile’s Agricultural Research Institute to stand as Director.
From her position she assured that FONTAGRO is a magnificent example of cooperation and provides great possibilities for holding scientific-technical discussions, to know what other countries are doing and to understand the way that Chile can learn from these experiences and contribute its own.

See everything that happened at the XVIII Annual Technical Project Follow-up Workshop

In the context of FONTAGRO’s 25 year celebrations, the XVIII Annual Technical Project Follow-up Workshop was held in Madrid, Spain, from June 5th to 7th. 
During the event, 25 researchers from 21 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean and Spain presented their advances of technical results and innovations for the agri-food sector.
In the following link you can access the video that provides a summary of the XVIII edition of this important workshop and find out which topics were dealt with during the panels, as well as the winner of the 2023 Scientific Excellence Prize.

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