San José, 23 April 2026 (IICA). With the aim of boosting the development of the industry and the use of bioinputs in agriculture to improve soil fertility, stimulate crop growth, and support pest management, the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) launched the Global Dialogues on Innovation in Bioinputs to analyze the trends and innovations that are transforming the future of this sector.
The series of dialogues are being held under the aegis of the Hemispheric Bioinputs Platform (PHB), an initiative promoted by the Institute in conjunction with public and private organizations across the region. The aim is to bring together experts, researchers, and key stakeholders in the bioinputs sector to share market advances and trends, public policies, regulations, emerging business models, and success stories that are shaping the evolution of the industry.
“The Hemispheric Bioinputs Platform, which is promoting these dialogues, was created to enable bioinput stakeholders in the region to share knowledge, initiatives, and strategic visions in a context in which agriculture faces the challenge of making production more efficient and sustainable,” said Harold Gamboa, a specialist with IICA’s Innovation and Bioeconomy Program and the Platform’s Executive Secretary.
As many as 180 people from a number of countries across the region took part in the first session in the series, which was entitled The new generation of CRISPR-edited microbial biofertilizers. CRISPR is a biotech tool used to modify the DNA of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria with great precision, so that they absorb nutrients and interact with crops more efficiently, giving rise to technologies with less environmental impact.
Nicolás Ayub, principal researcher of the startup Prix Biotech, presented his team’s successful experience in optimizing microorganisms using gene editing tools.
“We work on enhancing existing functional characteristics in microorganisms, which allows us to develop more efficient biological solutions with a smaller environmental footprint and greater consistency in the field, achieving faster fertilization processes at a lower cost,” he explained.
Fabricio Cassan, principal researcher at Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), highlighted the importance of strengthening the base of evidence in the development of new agricultural technologies.
“It is essential that these innovations are introduced with clear, consistent information about their performance in production systems, evaluating their contribution in terms of efficiency and value added compared to existing alternatives,” he concluded.
Finally, Lorena Barra, researcher and specialist advisor in bioinputs development at MacBio, highlighted the role of biotechnology in revitalizing the sector.
“The incorporation of these tools opens up new possibilities to respond to current challenges, such as sustainable food production and improving the efficiency of agricultural systems,” she remarked.
The series of activities will take place across 2026 with six dialogue sessions addressing key topics related to the development of bioinputs. Information about registration will be shared on IICA’s Facebook, LinkedIn, and X at the appropriate time.
Through these meetings, the Institute, under the auspices of the PHB, aims to promote international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge, generate shared criteria, and help build capacities that promote agricultural innovation and sustainability in the Americas.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int
