CATIE, Grupo Innovar from Brazil, and Geos Organic sign an agreement to promote the development of biocontrol agents

• The objective is to improve the sustainable use of natural resources and promote agroecological production.

To advance research and validation of biological technologies for pest and disease control in key crops, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) signed a cooperation agreement with Grupo Innovar from Brazil and Geos Organic from Ecuador, with its division Grupo Onfarm in Costa Rica.

The agreement was formalized by Carlos Alves, CEO and owner of Grupo Innovar, Nilson Oliveira and Silvana Yepez from Geos Organic, and Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE.

Grupo Innovar from Brazil stands out in the market for specialized technology in formulation, packaging, and bioprocesses. Its product portfolio includes formulation systems, reactors, agitators, biofermenters, and bioreactors for the chemical industry and agricultural production, as well as process automation solutions and aseptic production and filling systems.

On the other hand, Grupo ONFARM is the division of Geos Organic in Costa Rica, a company dedicated to the development of biological solutions for Central American agriculture. It develops biological programs using cutting-edge technologies, making them accessible and easy to implement for farmers. It also formulates products based on fungi and bacteria for biological control and biofertilization.

The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration to support research projects, training, technology transfer, exchange of experiences, and joint business development.

The objective is to improve the sustainable use of natural resources and promote agroecological production.

This agreement will allow CATIE master's and doctoral students to conduct research that could transform current agricultural practices, focusing on crops such as coffee, sugar cane, cocoa, banana, and pineapple.

This technology is especially relevant in the current context, where more than 200 chemical molecules are banned each year due to their harmful effects, highlighting the urgent need to find biological alternatives to produce healthier food.

The agreement aligns with CATIE's vision of promoting agriculture aligned with the concept of "One Health," which seeks the integration of human, animal, and environmental health.

By collaborating with Grupo Innovar, CATIE reaffirms its commitment to innovation and sustainability in agriculture, exploring methods that not only improve the productivity of export crops and food security but also reduce dependence on chemical products.

Carlos Henrique de Paula, a member of Grupo Innovar, expressed satisfaction that this agreement will be a benchmark for innovation and technology for regenerative and biological agriculture in Central America and the entire ecosystem linked to CATIE.

In the words of Luis Pocasangre, Director General of CATIE: "Biological control is the future alternative for pest and disease management. Consumers and markets increasingly want pesticide-free products. That is why we believe CATIE is on the right track by making alliances with Grupo Innovar from Brazil, specialized in bioreactors for the pre-production of biological microorganisms."

The specific activities of the agreement include:

• Bioprospecting microorganisms.
• Reproducing beneficial microorganisms in bioreactors.
• Validating biocontrol agents in greenhouses for crops such as coffee, cocoa, banana, pineapple, and sugar cane.
• Field evaluation of biocontrol agents in these crops.

Silvana Yepez, General Manager of Geos Organic, expressed high expectations for what they will generate together with CATIE and Grupo Innovar in this new era of using bio-inputs to achieve regenerative agriculture.

"Thanks again for the openness to new technologies that we seek to make accessible to the farmer."