More than 20 stakeholders strengthen agricultural innovation in Cesar within the framework of the MeCTIA initiative promoted by AGROSAVIA

• More than 20 stakeholders gathered at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, La Paz campus, in Cesar, and at the Valledupar Chamber of Commerce to promote interaction among territorial stakeholders and coordinate strategic projects in agricultural science, technology, and innovation to drive the department’s sustainable development.

 

Valledupar, Cesar. September 1, 2026. The Motilonia Research and Technology Transfer Center (CIT Motilonia) of AGROSAVIA, serving as the technical secretariat of the Cesar Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation Committee (MeCTIA), led the eighth and ninth sessions of this regional coordination body. These meetings brought together more than 20 representatives of the agricultural science, technology, and innovation ecosystem to consolidate joint actions to strengthen rural development in the department.

The sessions were held on July 23 and August 20 at the Valledupar Chamber of Commerce and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, La Paz campus, respectively, in coordination with the Government of Cesar, through the Secretariat of Agriculture and Business Development (SADE) and the Regional Competitiveness and Innovation Commission (CRCI).

During the meetings, representatives from public institutions, academia, agricultural associations, and organizations from Cesar’s agricultural sector received relevant information on Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation (CTIA), shared progress on strategic projects, and defined actions to further strengthen research, innovation, and knowledge transfer in the territory.

 

Three strategic topics shaped the agenda of the Cesar MeCTIA

The MeCTIA sessions held throughout this year have addressed three key areas for strengthening agricultural science and innovation in the department:

Contextualization of Cesar MeCTIA, highlighting its role as a coordination body among stakeholders of the National Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation System (SNIA, for its Spanish acronym), as well as the delivery of initial training on Territorial Innovation Systems (STI, for its Spanish acronym), as a strategic component for strengthening agricultural innovation in the department.

Presentation of the updated National Strategic Plan for Agricultural Science, Technology, and Innovation (PECTIA), updated in 2025 as a guiding instrument for the Departmental Research Agenda, as well as the support platforms for the SNIA (Linkata, Siembra, and the Colombian Agricultural Library).

Presentation of project results and initiatives under development by participating organizations: the Sustainable Colombian Livestock initiative, led by FEDEGÁN, showcasing experiences and lessons learned to promote the sustainability of livestock production systems; an automated greenhouse initiative led by SENA, seeking to coordinate stakeholders to adopt Industry 4.0 technologies in protected agriculture; and CTIA projects led by SADE, including ongoing initiatives and projects developed with the endorsement of the Government of Cesar for submission to future calls for proposals by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (Minciencias).

 

AGROSAVIA strengthens coordination to promote agricultural innovation in Cesar

Robinsson Gómez Peña, Regional Innovation Coordinator at CIT Motilonia, who has supported the committee since its establishment, stated that “these sessions reaffirm the commitment of Cesar MeCTIA’s members to continue working in a coordinated manner and to promote projects that respond to the needs of the agricultural sector and contribute to the sustainable development of the territory, in alignment with the National PECTIA.”

In its role as technical secretariat of the Cesar MeCTIA, AGROSAVIA, through CIT Motilonia, continues to promote spaces for dialogue, cooperation, and knowledge management that strengthen coordination among institutions, academia, agricultural associations, and territorial entities, with the aim of driving innovative solutions for Colombia’s rural sector, in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.