Caribbean To Benefit From Online Course In Biotechnology In Agriculture

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Feb 27, (CMC) – The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) says, agricultural technicians, specialists and producers from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will be able to benefit from a course on applied biotechnology in agriculture next month.

It said, the objective of the online course is to improve agricultural production in the region and strengthen national capacities.

The technical training course for professionals and producers is organized by 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,” IICA said, of the eight-week course, that also includes six modules, which provide an overview of biotechnology and its foundations; soil and its microorganisms; genetics and molecular tools; and food security.

IICA’s coordinator for the Center for the Promotion of Technical Capabilities and Leadership, Franklin Marín, said, 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 added.

Director of CINVESTAV Irapuato, Gabriela Olmedo, said, 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.