CATIE and CARDI Sign Agreement to Strengthen Agricultural Research and Development in the Caribbean

• The agreement will promote training, exploratory missions, and germplasm exchange to strengthen tropical agriculture in the region.

CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) signed a cooperation agreement with the Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to promote research and agricultural development in Caribbean countries.

The agreement was signed by Dr. Anasari Hosein, Executive Director of CARDI, and Dr. Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE, with the presence of Dr. Fayaz Shah, Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation at CARDI, and Dr. Laura Benegas, Director of Research for Inclusive Green Development at CATIE.

As part of this agreement, both institutions will work on training CARDI personnel in tropical agriculture at CATIE, Costa Rica. Additionally, exploratory missions will be organized in Caribbean countries to develop research and development projects that will benefit both institutions.

One of the key aspects of the agreement is the exchange of germplasm, including coffee and cocoa varieties, as well as orthodox seeds from CATIE’s Germplasm Bank, which will be sent to the member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). This exchange aims to strengthen genetic diversity and crop resilience in the region.

Through this agreement, CATIE and CARDI reaffirm their commitment to innovation and sustainable agricultural development, promoting food security and the well-being of farming families in the Caribbean.