The work titled "Evaluation and characterization of sweetpotato (*Ipomoea batatas* L.) germplasm for genetic improvement and resilient, nutritious agriculture" won First Place as an Outstanding Poster at the 68th Annual Meeting of the Central American Cooperative Program for Crop and Animal Improvement (PCCMCA), held from September 28 to October 2, 2026, in Tela, Honduras.

The poster is an output of the project "Regional network for genetic improvement in LAC to promote resilient and nutritious agriculture," funded by FONTAGRO. This recognition reflects the commitment and regional collaboration the project has fostered regarding sweetpotato research and genetic improvement.

The study presents the evaluation and characterization of sweetpotato germplasm as a foundation for genetic improvement. Understanding and leveraging the crop's genetic diversity enables the development of materials that contribute to more resilient, nutritious, and sustainable agrifood systems.

The 68th PCCMCA Annual Meeting, held under the theme "Hands to the Soil, Food on the Table," brought together researchers, technicians, academics, producers, and representatives from national and international organizations to share knowledge and strengthen scientific cooperation across the region. This achievement is the result of the collaborative work of research institutions from five countries—the National Institute for Innovation and Transfer of Agricultural Technology (INTA) in Costa Rica, the Directorate of Agricultural Science and Technology (DICTA) in Honduras, the Agricultural Innovation Institute of Panama (IDIAP), and the National Institute of Agricultural Innovation (INIA) in Peru—in partnership with the University of Florida (UF) in the United States.

View the poster here.

FONTAGRO congratulates the research teams on this recognition, which highlights the importance of regional cooperation in generating knowledge and in conserving and utilizing sweet potato genetic diversity in Latin America and the Caribbean.