Transferencia de un paquete tecnológico de microorganismos mejoradores de suelo y biocontroladores para el cultivo de papa en la Zona Norte de Cartago para disminuir la dependencia agroquímica

Potato cultivation in the northern zone of Cartago faces enormous challenges in production due to
high production costs, high costs of synthetic fertilizers, shortage of high-quality seed and the use of
very old agrochemical molecules in the market, due to the problems of registration of new products.
The target population is farmers belonging to the Costa Rican Chamber of Potato Producers of
Cartago. The results of this transfer will benefit other potato producing regions in the country such as
Zarcero or Copey, which face similar problems; and of course, Cartago potato farmers not affiliated to
the Chamber.
The problem to be solved is the lack of sustainable and reliable technological options to reduce the
application of agrochemicals and synthetic fertilizers in the potato crop production system, without
affecting productivity and production costs.
To solve this problem, this extension project will promote the use of beneficial microorganisms
(disease and pest antagonists, organic matter degrading bacteria and nutrient solubilizing bacteria) to
improve potato crop production in a sustainable manner, reducing dependence on agrochemicals that
are toxic to the environment and people. This package of biological inputs has been developed for
more than 10 years in the laboratories of the Biotechnology Research Center and has been validated
over the years at laboratory, greenhouse, and field levels. It will be transferred through various
activities to the potato production sector.
The project is important because the potato is considered a highly consumed crop in the Costa Rican
diet, being one of the three most demanded vegetables in homes, restaurants, and industry. The
highest percentage of tuber production occurs on the slopes of the Irazú volcano, where varieties are
grown that are used for both fresh consumption and industry. The project will be disseminated
through talks, workshops, or field days to train those interested in the use, management and
application of beneficial microorganisms in potato production.

Biotecnología ambiental: uso de microorganismos benéficos en aplicaciones
agrícolas.