🌿 Investing in the Future of Sustainable Agriculture & Conservation
34 Young Professionals Begin Their Graduate Studies at CATIE
A new generation of leaders in sustainable agroforestry, climate change and tropical forest management has arrived at CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center)!
On March 7th, 2025, the 2025-2026 academic cycle was officially launched, welcoming 34 students from 13 Latin American and Caribbean countries to CATIE’s prestigious Graduate School. This diverse cohort—20 women and 14 men—will gain cutting-edge knowledge in an international environment that fosters innovation, collaboration and real-world impact.
A Commitment to Equal Access & Excellence
CATIE is dedicated to equitable education. "We are committed to ensuring that both men and women have the same opportunities to advance their knowledge and careers," emphasized Dean Alfredo Zamarripa.
With state-of-the-art facilities, including one of the best libraries in the Americas, a germplasm bank, research laboratories and a botanical garden, students will have access to world-class resources to develop sustainable solutions for global challenges.
Bridging Education & Innovation
The program also marks the beginning of a new collaboration between INTA (National Institute of Agricultural Technology) and CATIE, allowing INTA professionals to join this year’s class. This initiative strengthens ties between academia and applied research, creating real impact in agricultural and environmental sectors.
Meet the Next Generation of Change-Makers
Many students have received scholarships from international organizations like the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology of the Dominican Republic (MESCyT).
🌱 Camil ValentĂn (Puerto Rico):
"For the past three years, I’ve been teaching sustainable agriculture using the Montessori method with elementary and high school students. Joining CATIE is an incredible opportunity to expand my agroforestry project, Huerta Libre, with technical knowledge."
🌍 JosĂ© Pablo MartĂnez (Spain):
"After 25 years working on reforestation and community development projects in Honduras and Nicaragua, I realized I needed to update my knowledge to address today’s challenges. My goal is to contribute to conservation while ensuring sustainable development for local communities."
The Road Ahead
As these students embark on this exciting academic journey, they are not just studying—they are preparing to lead the transformation of agricultural and environmental systems worldwide.
🌎 At The Tropics Foundation, we believe in the power of education to create lasting impact. We are excited to follow the journey of these future leaders!
đź”— Learn more about our work and how we support sustainable education initiatives: https://www.catie.ac.cr/en/
#Sustainability #EducationForTheFuture #Agroforestry #ClimateChange #ForestManagement #TheTropicsFoundation
Written by: Karla Madrigal
Edited by: Estefanie RamĂrez.