Interview with Román Molina, Executive Director of AGREQUIMA (Agricultural Chemical Industry Association), on the Sustainable Agriculture in Action pilot project.
March 2025
Interview by Irene Eduardo,
Head of Public Relations and Communications at AGREQUIMA
2024 marked the first year of the Sustainable Agriculture in Action project in Guatemala, in English, Sustainable Pesticide Management Framework (SMPF). As an association with over 30 years of experience and established educational and environmental programs, how did AGREQUIMA take on the challenge of executing another pilot project?
It was exciting, mainly because we were selected for one of the first pilot projects in Latin America. AGREQUIMA has worked hard to strengthen its programs, and the Sustainable Agriculture in Action project (SPMF) provides a significant boost to accelerate the transition toward more sustainable practices in the use of crop protection products.
Why is the implementation of research plots so important?
Several key factors make technological demonstration plots crucial:
They are conducted in local and real-use conditions, involving key stakeholders who can share the results and demonstrate that these practices are adaptable to farmers’ realities.
They show how new technologies complement traditional pest management, addressing challenges posed by climate variability.
Local knowledge is transferred to farmers, facilitating technology adoption. This helps eliminate the perception that sustainable innovations are difficult to access, proving that they also improve cost-benefit ratios.
What were the results of the plots using biological control tools?
The demonstration plots, in collaboration with ENCA (National Central School of Agriculture), focused on evaluating biological control tools for tomato and bell pepper crops.
- Predator release (Orius insidiosus) in bell pepper: Optimized frequency and quantity for better thrips control, improving yields and cost efficiency.
- Biological control methods for thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) in tomatoes: Compared two entomopathogenic fungi (Isaria fumosorosea and Purpureocillium lilacinum) and a thyme-based plant extract (Thymus vulgaris). The plant extract showed the best results in pest reduction, yield increase, and cost-effectiveness.
- Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) control in bell pepper: Evaluated three entomopathogenic fungi, with Metarhizium anisopliae showing the most effective and persistent impact in reducing whitefly populations..
Why establish plots to evaluate new seed varieties for French bean and snow pea crops?
Guatemala has been a major exporter of these crops for over 30 years, supplying key markets like the U.S. and Europe. Currently, over 70,000 small-scale farmers grow these crops across the country.
With support from ICTA (National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology) and AGEXPORT (Guatemalan Exporters Association), the goal was to characterize 18 French bean varieties and 5 snow pea varieties to evaluate their tolerance to common phytosanitary issues.
Key findings:
- Identified two snow pea varieties with better post-harvest fungal resistance.
- Identified two French bean varieties with significant tolerance to soil-borne fungi.
What are the key takeaways from this first experience?
There is a strong need to generate local data based on farmers' realities. Disseminating these findings, improving technology accessibility, and ensuring continuity through key stakeholders will broaden the reach of sustainable agricultural knowledge and practices at a national level.
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