FONTAGRO Knowledge Week

8 - 10 July 2026. FONTAGRO Knowledge Week

The event combines the XXI Annual Technical Monitoring Workshop of FONTAGRO Projects with scientific presentations showcasing research and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean. 

It is supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), IICA, the Government of New Zealand, the Global Research Alliance, Global Methane Hub, INTA Costa Rica, and other partners.

The opening session set the stage for three days of scientific exchange and regional collaboration by bringing together researchers, policymakers, development partners, and innovation leaders from across Latin America and the Caribbean. It highlighted FONTAGRO's vision of transforming agri-food systems through science, technology, and international partnerships, emphasizing the importance of collaborative research in addressing climate change, food security, and sustainable rural development.

08/07 Flagship Program 1 – Transformation of resilient and carbon-neutral crop systems

This session addressed the growing pressures of climate change, resource scarcity, and increasing food demand on agricultural production. Presenters showcased innovative approaches to improving crop resilience while reducing agriculture's environmental footprint, covering advances in soil management, biological inputs, nutrient-use efficiency, crop protection, sustainable irrigation, and climate-resilient cropping systems.

• Pablo Mamani (PROINPA, Bolivia) – Nanotechnology in agricultural soil moisture management
• Juliana Gómez Valderrama (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Leveraging biological products to build climate resilience
• Francisco Salazar (INIA, Chile) – Nitrogen optimization for climate-smart food production
• Víctor Hugo Sánchez (INIAP, Ecuador) – Managing potato purple top disease
• Hugo Montero (INTA, Costa Rica) – Biologicals for sustainable agriculture
• Ignacio Hisse (University of Florida, USA) – Integrating sorghum into Latin American production systems
• Carolina Lizana (Universidad Austral, Chile) – Sustainable irrigation and fertilization in quinoa

08/07 Flagship Program 2 – Livestock and animal protein systems

This session examined how livestock systems could become more productive while reducing their environmental impact. Presentations focused on climate-smart livestock production, methane mitigation, sustainable grazing systems, resilient farm management, animal welfare, and tropical dairy production, demonstrating practical pathways toward more sustainable animal production systems.

• Carlos Gómez (Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru) – Sustainable livestock in the Amazon
• Yury Granja Salcedo (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Methane reduction in ruminants
• Marcelo Cesar Contreras (INTA, Argentina) – Resilient farm networks
• Natalia Aguilar (INTA, Argentina) – One Welfare approaches
• Nelson Vivas (Universidad del Cauca, Colombia) – Tropical dairy systems
• Alejandro Radrizzani (INTA, Argentina) – Gran Chaco cattle and methane reduction

09/07 Flagship Program 3 – Impact 2030

This session demonstrated how scientific innovation was translated into practical benefits for farmers and rural communities. Speakers presented successful examples of scaling agricultural innovations through extension services, public-private partnerships, participatory research, and regional collaboration, highlighting approaches that accelerated the adoption of climate-smart technologies across Latin America and the Caribbean.

• Carlos Hernández (Universidad Nacional, Costa Rica) – Geographical indications for Mesoamerican cacao
• Romina Romaniuk (INTA, Argentina) – Integrated production systems for climate adaptation
• Sebastián Villagra (INTA, Argentina) – Climate-smart research with Indigenous communities
• Gina Garzón (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Climate-resilient potatoes for the Andes

09/07 Flagship Program 4 – Digital revolution in agriculture

This session explored how digital technologies were transforming agricultural management and decision-making. Presentations highlighted the use of satellite observations, precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, digital decision-support platforms, and AgTech innovations to improve productivity while enhancing environmental sustainability.

• Martín Durante (INTA, Argentina) – Satellite monitoring of pasture biomass
• Liliana Ríos (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Tropical Agriculture 4.0 and water management
• Fernando Lattanzi (INIA, Uruguay) – Scaling AgTech innovation
• Álvaro Roel (INIA, Uruguay) – Satellite monitoring and verification of methane emissions
• Patricio Sandaña (Universidad Austral, Chile) – Online crop management platforms

10/07 Flagship Program 5 – The Future Food Basket

This session focused on agricultural diversification and innovations that contributed to resilient and nutritious food systems. Speakers presented research on biodiversity, sustainable horticulture, biological technologies, post-harvest protection, value-added products, and crop improvement, demonstrating how these innovations strengthened food security and agricultural competitiveness.

• Javier Pitti (IDIAP, Panama) – Vertical farming technologies
• Federico Battistoni (IIBCE, Uruguay) – Biologicals platform for Latin American farms
• Gabriela Nicoleta Tenea (Universidad Técnica del Norte, Ecuador) – Postharvest bio-protectors
• Ivonne Ximena Ceron Salazar (Universidad de Tolima, Colombia) – Value-added mango products
• Fabián Jiménez (INTA, Costa Rica) – Regional genetic improvement network

10/07 Project Presentations

The finalist project presentations showcased some of the most promising research initiatives supported by FONTAGRO. The projects addressed topics including gene editing, climate-smart livestock systems, biofortified crops, disease management, soil carbon sequestration, and greenhouse gas mitigation, illustrating their potential to generate meaningful benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment.

• Sergio Feingold (INTA, Argentina) – Gene editing for plants and animals
• Nelson Pérez (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Multipurpose silvopastoral systems
• Maika Barría (IDIAP, Panama) – Iron-rich bean alliances
• Mónica Betancourt (AGROSAVIA, Colombia) – Fusarium wilt prevention
• Verónica Ciganda (INIA, Uruguay) – Soil carbon sequestration
• Nicolás Ayub (INTA, Argentina) – Reducing nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture