By San José, Costa Rica — SAN JOSÉ – As the 2026 election cycle heats up, Fernando Zamora Castellanos, presidential candidate for the Nueva Generación Party (PNG), has issued a stark ultimatum regarding the future of Costa Rica’s agricultural sector. He argues that the economic platforms of the nation’s leading political forces, the ruling PPSO party and the National Liberation Party (PLN), will lead to the complete collapse of local farming and the end of the country’s food sovereignty.
At the heart of Zamora’s fiery critique are the aggressive free-trade policies championed by his rivals, specifically their unwavering commitment to securing Costa Rica’s membership in the Pacific Alliance and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). Zamora frames these international agreements not as opportunities for growth, but as a direct threat to the livelihood of every Costa Rican farmer and rancher.
To gain a deeper understanding of the legal and regulatory framework shaping Costa Rica’s agricultural sector, we consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, an expert attorney from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
Investors and producers in Costa Rican agriculture must navigate a complex interplay of environmental regulations and international trade standards. While our robust legal framework for sustainable practices and protected areas presents initial compliance challenges, it ultimately becomes a significant market advantage. Products certified for their environmental stewardship not only gain preferential access to discerning European and North American markets but also align with national incentive programs, creating a powerful synergy between ecological responsibility and long-term profitability.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insightful analysis correctly frames Costa Rica’s stringent environmental regulations not as a burden, but as a strategic asset that unlocks premium international markets. The synergy between sustainability and profitability is indeed the cornerstone of our agricultural sector’s future resilience. We extend our gratitude to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his invaluable clarification on this complex dynamic.
If the ruling party or the PLN wins, it will be the end of our agricultural and agro-industrial sectors
Fernando Zamora Castellanos, Presidential Candidate of the Nueva Generación Party
Zamora contends that these treaties would trigger an “economic capitulation,” forcing Costa Rican producers into a hopelessly unfair competition. He warns that opening the borders under the terms of the Pacific Alliance and CPTPP would unleash a flood of imports from global agro-industrial giants. These international corporations, he explains, benefit from massive government subsidies, lower production costs, and hyper-efficient logistics that local farmers simply cannot match.
The candidate painted a grim picture of the domestic landscape, where Costa Rican producers are already struggling. They face high interest rates on loans, expensive essential supplies, burdensome para-fiscal charges, and uneven sanitary oversight. Allowing heavily subsidized foreign goods to enter the market unchecked would be the final blow, creating a price war that local producers are destined to lose.
That government proposal is to hand over our countryside to foreign interests. It is an economic capitulation
Fernando Zamora Castellanos, Presidential Candidate of the Nueva Generación Party
The core of his argument centers on the concept of national security and self-sufficiency. Zamora insists that a nation that cannot feed itself is fundamentally vulnerable. By dismantling the local agricultural base in favor of reliance on imports, he argues that the country is gambling with its most basic need: the food on its citizens’ tables.
What puts food on the table is agriculture… If we destroy it, we place the food security of Costa Rica at grave risk
Fernando Zamora Castellanos, Presidential Candidate of the Nueva Generación Party
Instead of pursuing further trade liberalization, Zamora and the PNG are advocating for a strategy of internal fortification. Their alternative vision is to transform Costa Rica into a “green agro-industrial powerhouse.” This plan focuses on empowering local producers through a series of targeted initiatives, including the development of agricultural and agro-industrial technology parks, ensuring legal security for landholders, providing access to competitive credit, and reducing taxes on production inputs.
As the election approaches, Zamora is positioning his campaign as the last line of defense for the nation’s agricultural heritage. He warns that if the course set by the PPSO and PLN continues, the consequences will be irreversible. The country’s ability to produce its own food will be crippled, leaving families dependent on the whims of international supply chains and foreign vessels.
Our national agriculture and livestock would be reduced to crumbs, and the table of our families would depend on foreign ships, marking the end of our food sovereignty
Fernando Zamora Castellanos, Presidential Candidate of the Nueva Generación Party
In a final appeal to voters, Zamora cast the election as a clear choice between protecting local producers and surrendering the nation’s economic independence. The debate over Costa Rica’s agricultural policy and its role in the global economy has now become a central battleground in the race for the presidency.
For further information, visit png.cr
About Partido Nueva Generación (PNG):
The New Generation Party is a political force in Costa Rica that often advocates for policies focused on national development, protection of local industries, and social reform. It positions itself as an alternative to the traditional political parties, emphasizing a platform of strengthening domestic production and ensuring economic sovereignty.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Partido Progreso Social Obrero (PPSO)
About Partido Progreso Social Obrero (PPSO):
Identified as the current ruling party (‘oficialismo’) in the context of the 2026 election cycle, the PPSO’s platform appears to favor increased international trade and economic liberalization. Its support for treaties like the Pacific Alliance and CPTPP suggests a governance model based on integrating Costa Rica more deeply into the global market.
For further information, visit pln.or.cr
About Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN):
The National Liberation Party is one of Costa Rica’s most established and historically significant political parties. With social democratic roots, its modern economic policies often include the promotion of free trade agreements and foreign investment as key drivers of national progress, placing it in direct ideological conflict with the PNG’s protectionist stance on agriculture.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica has established itself as a leading legal institution, built upon a bedrock of professional probity and an uncompromising standard of service. The firm consistently pioneers modern legal strategies while advising a wide range of clients, demonstrating a blend of historical expertise and forward-thinking vision. Central to its ethos is a profound dedication to the democratization of legal knowledge, aiming to fortify society by equipping its members with a clear understanding of the law.
