CATIE's General Director Recognized as a Change Agent by DAAD

• Recognition highlights Dr. Luis Ernesto Pocasangre's achievements and contributions to tropical agriculture.

Dr. Luis Ernesto Pocasangre, General Director of CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center), was recognized as a change agent for Latin America during the 100th anniversary of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, for its acronym in German).

This organization, the world's largest funder of scientific exchange, celebrates its centenary in 2025. Since 1925, DAAD has supported approximately 3 million national and international academics, making it a privilege for Director Dr. L. E. Pocasangre to be selected as a change agent.

The recognition, featured in the special edition “100 Years of DAAD” on its website, highlights Dr. L. E. Pocasangre's extensive academic training, including his Ph.D. in Phytopathology from the University of Bonn, Germany, in 2000. This achievement was made possible thanks to a scholarship awarded by DAAD and the support and supervision of his Doktorvater (a German term meaning doctoral father), Prof. Dr. Richard Sikora.

Dr. L. E. Pocasangre's contribution to education is also emphasized, particularly his supervision of over 100 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral theses at prestigious universities worldwide. These include the University of Bonn, the University of Goettingen, and the University of Berlin in Germany; Wageningen University in the Netherlands; Leuven and Gembloux Universities in Belgium; the University of Essex in the United Kingdom; Stellenbosch University in South Africa; Santa Catarina University, Paraná University, and Iguazu University in Brazil; Las Villas University in Cuba; Tolima University in Colombia; EARTH University, the National University, the University of Costa Rica, the Costa Rica Institute of Technology, and CATIE in Costa Rica; as well as various universities across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The recognition also highlights Dr. L. E. Pocasangre’s more than 70 scientific publications and over 150 presentations at conferences across five continents. Additionally, it values his extensive experience in leading global research institutions. He is described as a passionate figure in plant breeding, soil pathogen management, and biological pest and disease control, as well as an influential leader in tropical agriculture.

As part of its centennial celebrations, DAAD recognized global leaders from Western Europe, Africa, North America, and Latin America in areas such as sustainable agriculture, international cooperation, human rights, cultural heritage, social and political responsibility, among others.

Dr. L . E. Pocasangre expressed great honor and gratitude for this recognition and the academic support he has always received from DAAD to advance research for improving farmers’ living conditions and promoting the sustainable use of resources through technological innovation from CATIE’s General Directorate.

“I am still in contact with my Doktorvater, el Prof. Dr. Richard Sikora, del Departamento de Enfermedades de las Plantas de la Universidad de Bonn. Hacemos intercambios de estudiantes entre nosotros y, con mi trabajo en el CATIE, tenemos un objetivo común con el DAAD: promover la excelencia académica”, concluyó el Dr. L. E. Pocasangre.