AGROSAVIA strengthens international cooperation with Costa Rica’s INTA

Bogota, Capital District. April 22, 2026. On April 20 and 21, Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria — AGROSAVIA — hosted a visit from INTA’s Executive Director, Roberto Camacho, as part of an agenda focused on exchanging experiences in research, development, and innovation for the agricultural sector.

From a technical and strategic perspective, the visit enabled the recognition of the Corporation’s progress both in laboratory settings and in the field. On the first day, INTA’s director toured the molecular, animal health, and livestock microbiology laboratories, highlighting AGROSAVIA’s installed capacity, cutting-edge techniques, and specialized equipment. These facilities demonstrate a level of development that opens concrete opportunities for cooperation to strengthen capacities in Costa Rica.

The agenda also included a visit to the dairy herd and silvopastoral systems, production models that captured the visitor’s interest due to their potential for adaptation to agroecological conditions similar to those of Costa Rica, which are characterized by diverse altitudinal ranges and climates. At this stage, Dr. Camacho identified key elements for the possible implementation of these systems in his country.

One of the most significant moments of the visit was the stop at the reproduction laboratory, which the executive had specifically requested. There, he learned about advances in bovine genetic materials, with particular emphasis on Creole breeds such as Romosinuano and BON. These resources, recognized for their hardiness and adaptability, represent an opportunity for future exchanges of genetic material—embryos and semen—that could contribute to productivity improvements in Costa Rican livestock systems.

On the second day, the agenda focused on the plant science area. The laboratory tour enabled the identification of in vitro techniques, as well as conservation and propagation processes for species of interest such as pineapple, passionfruit species, and sweet potato. Subsequently, the delegation visited the bioproducts plant and the protected-area systems in strawberry cultivation, where the focus was more on production models under controlled conditions than on the crop itself.

The visit continued at the apiculture showcase, a space that generated particular interest due to the possibilities for genetic breeding of queen bees, aimed at achieving greater docility, reducing swarming, and increasing brood production, factors that translate into higher pollen and honey yields, a shared need in some apicultural systems in Costa Rica.

As a closing activity, Camacho met with AGROSAVIA’s Research Director, Rodrigo Martínez; the Director of the Tibaitatá Research Center, Juan Diego Palacios; and the Corporation’s Executive Director, Miguel Serrano. During this meeting, joint lines of work were consolidated and specific agreements were outlined in strategic areas, including bovine genetic material, apiculture, agrosilvopastoral systems, and capacity strengthening in laboratories.

“My expectation following this visit is to strengthen cooperation between AGROSAVIA and Costa Rica’s INTA. I am confident that, through collaborative work, we will be able to do a better job serving the agricultural sectors of our countries, Colombia and Costa Rica,” stated Roberto Camacho.

With this meeting, AGROSAVIA reaffirms its commitment to building international partnerships that drive agricultural innovation, promote knowledge exchange, and contribute to the sustainable development of the rural sector.