Development and use of biologicals for sustainable agriculture in Latin America

The project "Development and use of biologicals for sustainable agriculture in Latin America" aims to promote the sustainability of agricultural systems by making biologicals more available and efficiently utilized, helping to address the current economic and climate challenges in the region's agriculture. With a comprehensive approach, the project focuses on four main components:

1. Quality standardization, which involves harmonizing production and quality control protocols to ensure the efficacy and safety of biologicals;
2. Development and evaluation of biologicals, which drives the creation of biofertilizers and biocontrol agents through laboratory, greenhouse, and field testing in strategic crops like maize, beans, and citrus;
3. The implementation of agricultural management schemes that incorporate biologicals to enhance crop nutrition and protection, thereby reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides;
4. Knowledge management and training, aimed at educating producers and technicians in these technologies through training sessions and workshops, complemented by a virtual platform that centralizes technical information on biologicals.

With the participation of Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, and Venezuela and the support of institutions such as INTA, DICTA, IDIAP, and INIA, the project aims to benefit 2,000 producers directly and another 7,600 stakeholders indirectly across the region. Active participation from women, youth, and farming families is also encouraged. With an estimated duration of 42 months and a total cost of USD $408,650, of which $200,000 is funded by FONTAGRO and the remainder provided by local contributions, the project aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, seeking not only to improve productivity and sustainability in agricultural systems but also to reduce environmental impact and enhance climate resilience in Latin America.