The first workshop and technical meeting of the genetic improvement communication platform were successfully conducted as part of the project “Climate-Resilient Potatoes for the Andean Region - Andespapa.
On November 27, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE) hosted the virtual workshop "Rapid Multiplication Techniques in Laboratory and Greenhouse for Potato Seed Tubers." Dr. Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary of FONTAGRO, and Engineer Juan Borja, Dean of UCE's Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacities and training stakeholders in the potato production chain.
The workshop featured renowned regional experts who shared their experiences and advancements in rapid potato seed tuber multiplication techniques used across Latin America. Engineer Santiago Meneses from the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) discussed potato multiplication through in vitro tissue culture techniques for plant generation. Subsequently, Engineer Pablo Jaramillo from INIAP shared his expertise on automated hydroponic and aeroponic greenhouse systems for seed tuber production. From Colombia, Engineer Germán Sánchez of Agrosavia presented aeroponic systems for potato tuber production and their social impact. Finally, Engineer Wilmer Pérez shared lessons learned from the aeroponic system in Peru.
This international initiative fostered knowledge exchange to enhance quality seed production across Latin America, with 118 participants attending both virtually and in person. The event recording is available on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PTI5I5oDkU&t=1s
Additionally, on November 7, the project held its first online meeting for the genetic improvement communication platform with 19 researchers from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, promoting collaboration and reliable data-sharing tools.
More information about the project is available on https://www.fontagro.org/new/proyectos/Papasresilentes/es
