The II National Avocado Congress, organized by the Guatemalan Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT), was held on October 13th and 14th at the Porta Hotel Antigua, in Antigua Guatemala.

Guests included producers, technicians, product and service providers, researchers, buyers, exporters, and students. Gabriela Godoy Gudiel and Ximena Nicole Alvarado Ríos, two student attendees from the Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG), are currently studying Food Science Engineering and Industrial Engineering, and are helping UVG conduct an assessment and analysis of the avocado value chain in Guatemala. Avocado represents one of the six productive sectors selected by AGEXPORT with the potential to generate immediate research and innovation opportunities for local development within ASPIRE.

During the event, attendees were taught about market perspectives, nutrition, integrated pest and disease management, and competitiveness within the avocado value chain. A total of ten keynote speeches were given by national and international experts from countries such as Mexico and Honduras.

Currently, the avocado sector in Guatemala generates around 13,000 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs, and has enormous potential for development and commercial expansion at an international level. Through the production of avocado varieties such as Booth-8 and the modernization of practices and processes at the industry and field level, the path to commercial expansion is growing and offers more opportunities for community stakeholders associated with the sector.

The ASPIRE Project recognizes the potential of this value chain and seeks to generate pertinent and relevant research to grow opportunities that promote the development of producing communities. To achieve this, the project will fund research projects in the avocado and other sectors, utilizing the co-creation methodology to connect and encourage collaboration between UVG researchers, communities, and private companies represented by members of AGEXPORT.

About the ASPIRE Project

The Achieving Sustainable Partnerships for Innovation, Research and Entrepreneurship (ASPIRE) Project is a five-year, $15 million project funded by USAID and implemented by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Universidad del Valle de Guatemala (UVG) and the Guatemalan Exporters Association (AGEXPORT). The goal of the project is to create a world-class, replicable model for how Latin American universities and their collaborators can respond to local and regional development needs. The project implements a collaborative approach to research, teaching, innovation, entrepreneurship and tech transfer, based on the combination of local assets and knowledge with MIT’s experience in the innovation ecosystem.