Country: Costa Rica

Geographical coverage: Regional

Research Centres: Economics, Markets, Trade, Humid and Sub-Humid Agro-Ecosystem, Seeds and Breeds

Resource Concentrations: Agroforestry, Comparative Studies, Livestock, Pastures, Pest/Disease Management

Type of Institution: organic research

CATIE is a joint endeavour between the Inter-American Institute for Agricultural Sciences and the Costa Rican Government.  Its mission is to contribute to rural poverty reduction by promoting competitive and sustainable agriculture and natural resource management through higher education, research and technical cooperation.  CAITE has more than 70 research and development project that fit into the following thematic groups: Cacao; Livestock and Environmental Management; Musa; Plant Genetic Resources; Center for Competiveness of Eco-enterprises; Agroecology; Coffee; Forests, Protected Areas and Biodiversity; Global Change; Watershed; and Socio-economics of Environmental Goods and services.

CATIE has an agroecological thematic group that works on research in organic agricultural systems. research areas are: Comparative trials of systems, biological pest control, soil quality, organic fertilizers and biodiversity. 

The work in organic production is not limited to research, but also to promotion and training, as well as an active participation in national and international organic movements to promote projects and enterprises that promote this type of activity with the other actors within the sector. 
 

The University of Agriculture, Abeokuta aims to promote agricultural education and services for agricultural development and attainment of self-sufficiency in food and fibre. The University has established a Working Group on organic agriculture that undertakes research and capacity building in organic agriculture. Current research projects study the effects of compost and soil fertility-building schemes, as well as the effect of crop rotation schemes on the severity of pests and diseases. Information about these research endeavours is not currently available on the University webpage

The Organic Agriculture Program combines both research and teaching and is spread between four campuses.  Research is carried out by six different groups: Soils; Horticulture – Field Crops; Urban Agriculture – Livestock; Urban Agriculture – Environment; Social Justice – Marketing and Economics; and Rural Communities.

VRF aims at simulating the diversity and eco-friendliness of the natural forests in farming and farm practices. The research technologies developed in the foundation, especially on organic farming, are being field-tested at a macro-level in Varanashi Farms (VF), before being advocated for wide-scale adoption. Thus, emphasis on organic farming is attempted in VRF and VF. Varanashi Agro-Sustainable Technology (VAST) Centre, another sister unit attached to the Varanashi Organization, has the responsibility of manufacturing and marketing eco-friendly farm inputs to the farming community.