With great success, FONTAGRO, with the support of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Dominican Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research (IDIAFRD), held the XX Annual Technical Follow-up Workshop of FONTAGRO Projects: “Connecting Science, Technology, and Agriculture,” from July 1 to 3 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

The event brought together prominent figures from the agricultural sector, including Mr. Limber Cruz, Minister of Agriculture of the Dominican Republic; Dr. Rafael Ortiz, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Jorge Ganoza, Vice President of FONTAGRO and Head of INIA Peru; Dr. Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO; Dr. Eladio Arnaud Santana, Executive Director of the Dominican Institute of Agricultural Research (IDIAF); and Dr. Gabriela Quiroga, IICA Representative in the Dominican Republic. Also present were 15 directors of agricultural research institutes from FONTAGRO member countries, as well as Dr. Santiago Alberto Derqui, Executive Director of the Argeninta Foundation, and 24 researchers from the region leading research projects aimed at enhancing agri-food systems.

Additionally, the event featured participation from Deissy Martínez-Barón, PhD, Regional Leader for Climate Action in Latin America and the Caribbean at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, who presented an analysis of the Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation System of the Dominican Republic.

Among the participants were representatives from INTA – Argentina, INIAF – Bolivia, INIA – Chile, AGROSAVIA – Colombia, INTA – Costa Rica, INIAP – Ecuador, INIA – Spain, DICTA – Honduras, INTA – Nicaragua, IDIAP – Panama, IPTA – Paraguay, INIA – Peru, IDIAF – Dominican Republic, INIA – Uruguay, and INIA – Venezuela.

During this event, science and innovation came together to address the challenges facing the agricultural sector in our region, seeking innovative and effective solutions. Progress on 24 projects that have received a total co-financing of 21.1 million dollars was presented.

These projects span 18 countries and involve collaboration among 122 organizations dedicated to developing innovative solutions in research, development, and innovation (R&D&I) to strengthen agri-food systems.

***

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 27 years 204 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 150.7 million, which has reached 531 institutions and 35 countries worldwide.