As part of the XX Annual Technical Project Monitoring Workshop: “Connecting Science, Technology, and Agriculture,” the Dominican Institute of Agricultural Research (IDIAF) led a technical tour that provided participants with the valuable opportunity to learn about the agro-industrial sector of the Dominican Republic. This experience highlighted the importance of common goods and emphasized the collaborative efforts of producers and farmers in the region.

The technical tour included stops at several key locations. Participants began their journey at the Victorina Agroindustrial Farm, known for its long history in tomato-based product production. Here, the modernization and sustainability practices implemented by the company to expand its product range were discussed. The visit continued at COOPESUR, a cooperative supporting over 850 milk producers. At this stop, attendees learned about the cooperative model that emphasizes collaboration and the training of its members, highlighting its contribution to local development and improving the quality of life for producers.

During the tour, emphasis was placed on milk production and the process of making tomato paste. In the milk production sector, participants explored facilities dedicated to genetic improvement of livestock and sustainability in milk production. The importance of collaboration among farmers was a recurring theme, enabling producers to address quality and management challenges. At the Victorina Farm, quality assurance techniques and the value chain that allows farmers to engage in broader markets were addressed.

The tour concluded at the IDIAF Azua Experimental Station, where participants were able to observe ongoing research on agricultural management, fertilization, and pest control. This station is fundamental to the development of new technologies aimed at improving agricultural productivity for key crops in the region.

This technical tour offered attendees an educational and practical experience, providing a deeper understanding of the agro-industrial sector in the Dominican Republic.

The visits not only highlighted innovations and best practices in agriculture but also inspired researchers to promote collaborative models in their countries, fostering knowledge exchange and sustainability in agriculture throughout the region.

The XX Annual Technical Project Monitoring Workshop reaffirmed FONTAGRO’s commitment to a comprehensive approach that incorporates both science and the practical realities of agricultural work.

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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.