Nataima is an indigenous word from the Tolima culture that means "a space of land in a warm climate belonging to an indigenous ruler". The Center conducts research and technology transfer in the areas of biophysical resources (soil and water), transitional crops (cotton and maize), fruit trees (mango, passion flower fruits, sour lime, guava and soursop), cocoa and sweet sorghum for livestock, as well as agroindustrial processes with mango, cocoa and maize. The Center’s germplasm banks include 85 mango materials of which 47 are native materials, 119 oil palm accessions, 100 sweetsop accessions, and 27 materials of both edible canna and soursop.

The Center classifies regenerates and multiplies tropical germplasm and advances ecophysiology processes in search of elite materials. Additionally, research is conducted to improve the availability and quality of food for large and small ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats), deploying silvopastoral technologies that help control gastrointestinal parasites, through phytotherapy and biological control to preserve the sheep stock’s genetic resources. Studies are also being carried out in Nataima on the functional characteristics of plants in the region that can be used as nutritional alternatives for ruminants.

Research and technology transfer activities with transitional crops at the Nataima Research Center focus on cotton, rice and maize; in the agroindustry, the Center generates differentiated and value-added products, taking advantage of the physical, chemical, functional and quality properties of the materials. Currently, quality and functionality parameters are being determined for cocoa, avocado processing and mango byproduct evaluation. Similarly, training is being promoted in the agroindustrial processing plant and Nataima is resuming its role as AGROSAVIA’s seed-producing center, with the expectation of meeting much of the requirements of small and medium producers in the country.

The strength of the Nataima Research Center lies in its strategic location as leader in agricultural research in the departments of Tolima, Huila, Caquetá and Putumayo, with proximity to two major cities in Tolima­–Ibagué and Espinal.

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Director

• Lorenzo Peláez Suárez

• (+57) 60 1 9144677, Ext. 2601
• lpelaez@agrosavia.co
• View profile

Veterinarian and zootechnician from the University of Tolima, Colombia, M.Sc. in Education and Community Development with emphasis on Processes and Research Methods for Development from the South Colombian University, and specialist in Pedagogy for the Development of Autonomous Learning from the National Open and Distance University (UNAD, from its name in Spanish), Colombia, and in Rural Development from the National University of Colombia. He has participated in the planning, formulation and evaluation of agricultural research projects with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Tolima and Huila. Lorenzo was part of the team that developed the characterization and prioritization of production systems in Huila, Tolima and southwestern Cundinamarca. He formulated the Agricultural Plan for the Tolima Triangle, and coordinated the National Agenda for Science, Technology and Innovation. In addition, as Director of the Nataima Research Center since 2003, and in representation of AGROSAVIA, he integrates scientific organizations for knowledge management and innovation, such as the science and technology council of the department of Tolima (Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Tolima, CODECYT), the Technical Committee of the national training service (Servicio Nacional de Aprendizaje, SENA), the sectorial agricultural development councils (Consejos Seccionales de Desarrollo Agropecuario, CONSEA) and the Council of Competitiveness of Tolima.

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