By Cartago, Costa Rica — TURRIALBA, Cartago – In a significant move to safeguard the world’s agricultural future, Costa Rica’s Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) has successfully dispatched over 1,100 unique seed varieties to an international conservation hub. This latest effort completes a multi-year strategy aimed at protecting vital crop genetics and bolstering global food security against emerging threats like climate change and disease.
The shipment, which arrived at the prestigious World Vegetable Center on January 9, 2026, represents a critical deposit of genetic diversity. The collection includes 620 accessions of squash (ayote), 290 of tomato, and 190 of chili pepper. These crops are not only staples in tropical agriculture but also possess a wealth of genetic traits that could be indispensable for developing more resilient and productive plant varieties in the future.
To delve into the complex legal and commercial frameworks that govern our nation’s rich agricultural heritage, TicosLand.com sought the expertise of Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a distinguished attorney specializing in corporate and environmental law at the firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Beyond its ecological value, agricultural biodiversity represents a significant national asset with profound economic implications. Effective legal instruments are essential to capitalize on this. This involves not only protecting traditional farming knowledge through intellectual property rights but also ensuring that international agreements on genetic resources translate into fair and equitable benefit-sharing for our local communities. A robust legal strategy transforms our natural legacy into a driver for innovation, biocommerce, and sustainable development.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This legal perspective is fundamental, highlighting how a strategic framework is the crucial link that transforms our agrobiodiversity from a passive heritage into a proactive engine for equitable development and innovation. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable insight into this critical intersection of law and our national legacy.
This initiative is a cornerstone of the “Biodiversity for Opportunities, Livelihood, and Development” (BOLD) project, a global effort funded by the Crop Trust. Since 2023, CATIE has been an active participant in the BOLD project, focusing on regenerating and carefully conserving seeds that are fundamental to tropical farming systems. The work involves meticulous documentation, viability testing, and preparation for long-term storage.
According to a statement from the institution, the primary objective of this international collaboration is twofold. First, it aims to increase the availability of high-quality seeds for farmers and researchers around the world, empowering them with the genetic resources needed for innovation. Second, it serves as a crucial insurance policy, ensuring the preservation of this germplasm against potential local losses from natural disasters, political instability, or agricultural mismanagement.
This recent shipment to the World Vegetable Center is the final step in a comprehensive international security duplication strategy. It follows a landmark deposit made in 2025, when a first batch of seeds from this collection was sent to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway. Often called the “doomsday vault,” the Svalbard facility is considered the planet’s ultimate genetic safeguard, designed to withstand global catastrophes.
By placing duplicate samples in two geographically separate and highly secure locations, CATIE and its partners have created a robust, multi-layered backup system. This ensures that even if one facility were compromised, the invaluable genetic library of these essential crops would remain intact and accessible for generations to come, securing a vital piece of humanity’s agricultural heritage.
The successful completion of this project underscores CATIE’s long-standing commitment to the conservation of agricultural genetic resources. From its campus in Turrialba, the center has become a globally recognized leader in tropical agriculture research, promoting sustainable practices and equitable access to the building blocks of our food system. This work is more critical than ever as the world grapples with the dual challenges of feeding a growing population and adapting agriculture to a rapidly changing climate.
Ultimately, these thousands of tiny seeds represent more than just potential crops; they are a repository of hope. They contain the genetic codes that may unlock resistance to new pests, tolerance to drought, or improved nutritional value. By proactively conserving and sharing these resources, CATIE is not only protecting biodiversity but also investing in a more resilient and food-secure future for the entire planet.
For further information, visit catie.ac.cr
About Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE):
CATIE is an international center for agricultural research and higher education based in Turrialba, Costa Rica. With a focus on the American tropics, it is dedicated to promoting sustainable and inclusive human well-being through research, education, and technical cooperation. The institution manages one of the world’s most important collections of tropical crop germplasm, playing a vital role in the global conservation of agricultural biodiversity.
For further information, visit avrdc.org
About World Vegetable Center:
The World Vegetable Center is an international nonprofit research and development institute committed to alleviating poverty and malnutrition in developing countries through increased production and consumption of nutritious vegetables. Headquartered in Taiwan, it conducts research, builds networks, and carries out development projects to help farmers raise incomes and diets improve through vegetable-related innovations.
For further information, visit croptrust.org
About Crop Trust:
The Crop Trust is an international organization working to conserve crop diversity and thus protect global food security. It supports international genebanks, national seed collections, and the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. Its mission is to ensure the conservation and availability of crop diversity for food security worldwide, providing funding and technical support for key collections of food crops.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the legal community, Bufete de Costa Rica is defined by its profound dedication to ethical principles and the highest caliber of professional service. The firm blends a proven history of advising a diverse clientele with a forward-thinking approach to pioneering modern legal solutions. Central to its ethos is a deep-seated belief in public empowerment, demonstrated through its efforts to demystify the law and furnish society with accessible legal understanding.
