Dr. Martha Isabel Gómez Álvarez, National Director of Innovation at AGROSAVIA and Senior Researcher at FONTAGRO, participated in the panel “Biologicals: tools for agricultural sustainability in Latin America” of the Third Symposium on Microorganisms for Agriculture organized by INIA Uruguay on October 9th, with her presentation: An overview of the state of biologicals development in LATAM.
During her presentation, Dr. Gómez showcased FONTAGRO’s projects:
– Multifunctional bio-protectors for postharvest fruit, aimed at improving the safety and nutritional quality of uvilla and strawberry fruits after harvest through the use of Multifunctional Bio-protectors. This aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 12 by promoting healthy lives, well-being for all ages, and sustainable consumption and production practices. The proposed strategy seeks to preserve the fruit, reduce microbial load, and increase its nutritional value in Ecuador, Chile, and Colombia. Learn more about this project at: https://www.fontagro.org/new/proyectos/bioprotectores-multifuncionales/en
– Platform for the transfer and efficient use of biologicals on Latin American farms, which proposes coordinated actions within the agricultural production chain, including the creation of a scientific-technological cooperation network between laboratories to evaluate biologicals in the field, biological trials on crops to improve growth and protection against pests/diseases, and the promotion of knowledge exchange on the efficient use of biologicals among various actors in the agricultural sector in Chile, Argentina, Colombia, and Uruguay. Learn more about this project at: https://www.fontagro.org/new/proyectos/plataforma-bioinsumos/en
– Biological products for creating resilience to climate change, which seeks to create a strategy to increase maize production and resilience to climate change by using beneficial fungi with biopesticide and biofertilizer properties, leveraging microbiological biodiversity to mitigate the negative effects of climate change in Colombia and Argentina. Learn more about this project at: https://www.fontagro.org/new/proyectos/resiliencia-bioproductos/en
To access the recording of this engaging panel, featuring researchers from key organizations such as INIA Uruguay, INTA Argentina, MGAP, IIBCE – Uruguay, and Lallemand, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/live/_vtCD6ZAI3E?si=qliVIrstNwkneiU
***
About FONTAGRO
FONTAGRO was created 1998 with the purpose of promoting the increase of the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and the reduction of poverty in the region. The objective of FONTAGRO is to establish itself as a sustainable financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean and Spain, and to establish a forum for the discussion of priority topics of technological innovation. The member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the last 21 years 167 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 124 million, which has reached 452 institutions and 33 countries worldwide.