Agroforestry Network of Colombian Universities Recognizes CATIE

• Tributes were presented during the 9th International Agroforestry Seminar held at the University of Valle, Meléndez Campus in Cali, Colombia. 

September 11, 2023. The Agroforestry Network of Colombian Universities honored CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) for its 50th anniversary. In the same session, another tribute was awarded to the Director-General, Muhammad Ibrahim. 

"In recognition of CATIE's 50 years of researcher training and leadership, pioneering research and postgraduate studies in the agroforestry field in America and the Caribbean," reads the tribute presented on Friday, September 8, at the University of Valle, Meléndez Campus in Cali, Colombia.  

The awards were presented during the 9th International Agroforestry Seminar held in the previous week, which aimed to share advancements and research experiences in various fields of agroforestry knowledge in tropical America, addressing topics related to agricultural and environmental sciences, among others.  

CATIE's Contributions 

The seminar featured 17 national and international speakers, including Dr. Ibrahim, who served as the Keynote Speaker for the event as a whole. His presentation was titled: "Agroforestry as a Tool to Accelerate the Transformation of Food Systems and Climate Change Resilience."  

Guillermo Detlefsen, coordinator of the Master's in Agroforestry and Sustainable Agriculture, also participated with a keynote lecture on rural development through the scaling of agroforestry systems.  

"The participation of CATIE was of great significance during the event. Dr. Muhammad Ibrahim's contribution added substantial value to the proceedings, as affirmed by the participants during the plenary sessions," commented Guillermo Detlefsen. 

The organization of the 11th edition of agroforestry seminars was led by the Academic Program in Agroforestry at the University of Valle (Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences), directed by Drs. Adolfo Consuegra and William Ballesteros, with the support of the Agroforestry Network of Colombian Universities. It provided a scientific and technical platform for academia, as well as agricultural entrepreneurs and stakeholders from the public and private sectors, to engage in dialogue regarding agroforestry and its benefits. Approximately 350 participants attended the event (192 women and 158 men). 

At the conclusion of the Friday sessions, the organizers honored the Director-General of CATIE for his outstanding professional career. 

International Gathering 

The International Agroforestry Seminar is held every two years in Colombia and has been supported by the Agroforestry Network of Universities since 2009. Its goal has been to serve as a meeting space for the agroforestry scientific community in Colombia, with the participation of universities and research centers from other countries, especially CATIE. 

The event aims to create a scientific and technical environment where agricultural entrepreneurs, producers, and representatives from the public and private sectors can share their knowledge and experiences through oral presentations.  

This year, the objective remained focused on communicating research advancements and producer experiences in various fields of agroforestry interactions in tropical America.