Havana witnessed a significant gathering of agricultural experts, community representatives, and academic professionals this Wednesday for a specialized workshop on tropical agriculture development. The event, organized by the Alejandro de Humboldt Institute of Fundamental Research in Tropical Agriculture (INIFAT) in partnership with the International Committee for the Development of Peoples (CISP), focused on preserving and leveraging Cuba’s rich agricultural heritage.
The workshop formed part of the broader initiative ‘Conservation and dissemination of scientific knowledge and results of basic research in tropical agriculture.’ Participants discussed strategies for enhancing the scientific and historical collections maintained by INIFAT, particularly those housed in the institution’s archives and library in Santiago de Las Vegas.
A key component of the project involves the integration of renewable energy solutions through the ‘Green Line, Renewable Energy Communities and Food Security’ project in Pinar del Río, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). This energy aspect complements the broader objectives of sustainable agricultural development.
The diverse attendance included not only INIFAT managers and specialists but also officials from the Agro-Forestry Business Group (GAF) and students from the Information Sciences program at the University of Havana’s Faculty of Communication.
Central to the discussions was the announcement of several progressive programs designed to modernize Cuban agriculture. These initiatives include the comprehensive digitization of Cuba’s agricultural documentary heritage, improvements to material conditions in agricultural research facilities, enhanced training programs to strengthen staff capabilities, and the development of new information services to support academic and scientific applications.