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. 
 

VEERU is a research and training centre in veterinary epidemiology and livestock economics.  The Organic Livestock Research Group (OLRG) within VEERU carries out research to identify animal health and welfare constraints and research needs within organic livestock production.  Current studies focus on milk production characteristics and fertility in organic dairy cows.  Also, OLRG coordinated an EU-funded action project, Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture (NAHWOA).