SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, July 17, 2019 — Costa Rica’s first Fab Lab, specializing in management and technological innovation for the agriculture sector, was officially launched on Wednesday at the San José Headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).
The purpose of the Fab Lab is to reduce the rural digital divide and increase the development of technological solutions in service to Costa Rican agriculture. For over a year, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Telecommunications (MICITT) and IICA worked together to develop the lab, in collaboration with key partners such as the Superintendency of Telecommunications (SUTEL) and the National Telecommunications Fund (FONATEL).
The new 225 square-meter facility was officially declared open by the Minister of MICITT, Luis Adrián Salazar Solís, and the Institute’s Director General, Manuel Otero, on the occasion of IICA’s Executive Committee Meeting.
The Hon. Michael Pintard, Bahamas Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources, also participated in the inauguration of the Fab Lab.
Minister Pintard led the Bahamian delegation to the 2019 IICA Thirty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Executive Committee, of which the Bahamas is a member. In addition to Minister Pintard, the Bahamian delegation included Agricultural Officer Joan Telle from the Department of Agriculture.
The Bahamas was selected to preside over the meeting, held at the headquarters of IICA in San Jose July 16 -17, and Minister Pintard chaired the sessions over the two days.
The Executive committee is comprised of the following countries: The Bahamas, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, Peru, St. Kitts & Nevis, St Vincent & The Grenadines; Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Argentina, Nicaragua and the United States attended as non-members of the committee, along with associated and observer countries and organizations .
The main topics addressed included:
Advances in organization of the next Inter-American Board of Agriculture
Report on the progress of implementation of Hemispheric Technical Programs
Formalization of agreements with important partners
Discussion of budget 2020-2021 and other financial matters
Implementation of IABA’s resolutions
Matters related to institutions like CATIE, CA
Minister Pintard also participated in bilateral discussions with Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and USA to create linkages with Latin and North American partners to address crucial needs of The Bahamas.
Minister Pintard sought to garner support through technical assistance, training opportunities; possible investments; grant funding and collaboration on best practices that are strategic to the goals of the Bahamas. The team returns to the Nassau on Thursday, July 18.
