Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Biotechnology Knowledge management Productivity Rural development

Training in applied biotechnology in agriculture underway for Central America and the Caribbean

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

Agricultural professionals and producers from 13 countries in Central America and the Caribbean participated in a training event to drive agricultural development in their countries.

The course provided an overview of applied biotechnology techniques for improving soils and varieties.

Irapuato, Mexico, June 29, 2015 (IICA). Mexican specialists provided a training in the use of biotechnology in agriculture for agricultural professionals and producers from 13 Central American and Caribbean countries, with the goal of driving productivity in those countries.

The training was organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), in collaboration with the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute of Irapuato (CINVESTAV Irapuato).

The course, that ended on July 1, provided an overview of applied biotechnology techniques for improving soils and varieties, as well as sustainable agricultural practices. The goal is for participants to drive decision-making and promote development and research on this topic.

According to the course specialists, biotechnology is a modern and effective tool for product and economic development in a country; as a result, its implementation is important for improving production and preserving biodiversity.

The countries that participated in the workshop were Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Dominica, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

This initiative is part of the Mexico-Caribbean-Central American Countries Technical Cooperation Program led by IICA and the General Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food (SAGARPA) of Mexico, which seeks to strengthen the capacities of the agricultural sector.

The program addresses the specific needs of the participating countries through short training events that focus on improving agricultural productivity and generating economic impact. It is supported by the Mexican Secretariat of Foreign Affairs and the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID), as well as educational and research institutions.

More information:
franklin.marin@iica.int 

 

Share

Related news​

Líderes de la Ruralidad

Brasilia, Brasil

November 7, 2025

Small farmers share their life stories with ministers of Agriculture in Brasilia and discuss how to promote rural retention and improve the well-being of rural communities in the hemisphere

Small farmers and rural advocates from different countries in the Americas shared their stories, demonstrated their love of the land and, along with ministers and deputy ministers of Agriculture from the hemisphere meeting in Brasilia, examined ways to promote rural retention and improve rural well-being.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Brasilia

November 6, 2025

Agriculture in the Americas needs a new narrative that reflects its true capacity to feed the world sustainably, ministers from the hemisphere affirmed in Brazil

Ministers and officials exchanged experiences and engaged in discussions with experts and producers with the mission of building a shared vision of productivity and resilience in agricultural production and the status of rural communities.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Brasilia

November 6, 2025

Minister of Agricultural Development of Brazil urges the region to strengthen family farming and food security

Minister of Agricultural Development and Family Farming of Brazil, Paulo Teixeira, was one of the speakers at the closing ceremony of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of the Americas 2025, in Brasilia, where he urged the countries of the region to promote public policies to strengthen family farmers and promote food security.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins