Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture

Biosafety Biotechnology

Online course will provide training in applied biotechnology in agriculture

Tiempo de lectura: 3 mins.

This initiative is part of the Mexico-Caribbean-Central American Countries Technical Cooperation Program led by IICA and SAGARPA of Mexico.

According to Franklin Marín, Coordinator of IICA’s Center for the Promotion of Technical Capabilities and Leadership, this initiative is an effective tool for fostering the agricultural, productive and economic development of participating countries.

Guanajuato, 25 February, 2016 (IICA). Agricultural technicians, specialists and producers from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to benefit from a course entitled “Applied Biotechnology in Agriculture,” available online as of March. The objective of the course is to improve agricultural production in the region and strengthen national capacities.

The technical training course for professionals and producers is organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Center for Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute of Irapuato (CINVESTAV).

The course, which seeks to strengthen the agricultural sector’s national capabilities, 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. This program addresses the specific needs of the participating countries through short training events that focus on improving agricultural productivity and generating a positive economic impact.

The course lasts eight weeks and includes six modules that provide an overview of biotechnology and its foundations; soil and its microorganisms; genetics and molecular tools; and food security.

According to Franklin Marín, Coordinator of IICA’s Center for the Promotion of Technical Capabilities and Leadership, this initiative is an effective tool for fostering the agricultural, productive and economic development of participating countries.

“Biotechnology contributes to the development of agriculture, hence the importance of promoting training courses that harness the use of techniques for improving production and preserving biodiversity,” he stated.

On the other hand, the Director of CINVESTAV Irapuato, Gabriela Olmedo, stated that food security requires multidisciplinary work, since Latin America and the Caribbean face diverse and common problems in the development of a more productive and competitive agriculture.

Aníbal González, Director of Planning for SAGARPA, stated that Mexico is committed to driving cooperation with LAC via in-person and online courses, as well as doctorates, to contribute to the region’s agricultural development. Applications can be submitted here.

More information:  franklin.marin@iica.intena.resendiz@iica.int

Share

Related news​

Asunción, Paraguay

September 16, 2025

Nidia González, who champions the empowerment of women farmers in Paraguay and strives to raise living standards in her community, has now been recognized as an IICA Leader of Rurality of the Americas 

Nidia is President of the Comité de Santo Domingo, a group that seeks to improve the income and standard of living of the entire community.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

Madrid, España

September 16, 2025

The IICA Director General, during a working visit to Spain, met with the Minister of Agriculture, Luis Planas; visited the Spanish Congress and was honored by Universidad de Córdoba

In his meeting with Planas, Otero reflected on the close collaboration with Spain and characterized the Institute’s technical cooperation as systemic, efficient and collaborative, providing benefits to more than ten million farmers and actively undertaking 358 projects to enhance food security and rural development.

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins

San José, Costa Rica

September 10, 2025

Erick Geovany Ac Tot, a cocoa entrepreneur who promotes high-quality cocoa and the preservation of ancestral trees in Guatemala, is named an IICA Leader of Rurality 

Erick Geovany Ac Tot—a prominent Guatemalan cocoa entrepreneur who has been assisting small farmer organizations, promoting high-quality cocoa production and preserving heirloom trees for years, in addition to being a cocoa taster—has been named a Leader of Rurality of the Americas by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). 

Tiempo de lectura: 3mins