Dominican Republic hosts third Latin American Congress of Precision Agriculture

Santo Domingo.- The Government Office of Information and Communication Technologies (OGTIC) and the Innovation Cabinet spearheaded the Third Latin American Congress of Precision Agriculture (CLAP2024) as part of the opening of Dominicana INNOVA 2024. This event aims to foster research and development in precision agriculture technologies and highlight the latest scientific advancements for managing spatial variability in sustainable farming.

Under the theme “Connecting Technology with the Land We Cultivate,” this edition of the congress focuses on advancing agricultural technologies, particularly by integrating artificial intelligence and sensors. It addresses challenges such as climate change, enhancing productivity, and reducing costs in agriculture.

Bartolomé Pujals, General Director of OGTIC and Executive Director of the Innovation Cabinet, emphasized the commitment to promoting innovation in the Dominican Republic. He highlighted the importance of aligning with global trends, particularly in Agriculture 4.0. Pujals underscored the necessity of public policies, capacity-building, research and development, and fostering innovative products to drive this transformation.

Pujals also referenced Central Bank reports indicating that agricultural production contributed significantly to the Dominican Republic’s Gross Domestic Product, amounting to 302 billion pesos by 2023, with around 357 thousand individuals employed in the agricultural labor market.

The event aims to address challenges faced by the agricultural sector in adopting new technologies. It provides a platform to showcase agrotech solutions, ranging from smart machinery to data-driven crop management systems. The congress features specialized talks, workshops, and live demonstrations of agricultural technologies, including drones, task automation, and intelligent irrigation systems.

Participants at the congress include national and international experts in agriculture, representatives from innovative companies and startups presenting technological solutions, and key stakeholders from the agricultural industry. The agenda covers topics such as sustainability, responsible agriculture, and fostering networking and business opportunities among farmers, technology providers, and industry representatives.

Distinguished attendees include Eladio Arnaud Santana, Executive Director of the Dominican Institute of Agricultural and Forestry Research (IDIAF); Arturo Bisono, President of CLAP2024; Osmar Benítez, Executive President of the JAD; Gabriel Esposito, Representative of the Latin American Association of Precision Agriculture (ALAP); Fernando Duran, Administrator of the Agricultural Bank; and other prominent figures from the agricultural sector.

The congress is taking place from April 9 to 11, 2024, at the Indotel Telecommunications Cultural Center in Ciudad Colonial, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.