Peru: Sierra Exportadora promotes the application of Biotechnology and Biosecurity in the Berries of Cajamarca

01/09/2015

The executive president of Sierra Exportadora, Alfonso Velásquez Tuesta, stressed the importance of applying cutting-edge technologies in the Berries production chain (raspberries, blueberries, aguaymanto, pushgay, elderberries, cherries, etc.), in order to favor the small and medium producers, and ensure their sustainability in the country.

Velásquez Tuesta raised the importance of using biotechnology in conventional plant breeding programs, because this will help increase the production and productivity of Berries in the country, and therefore, develop better agriculture.

The president of this body gave these statements during the inauguration of the theoretical-practical course "Biotechnology in Berries and Principles of Biosecurity", which began last August 24 at the National University of Cajamarca (UNC) and will culminate the August 28 .

The specialized lectures of the Course that is being developed in the auditorium of the Food Industry Faculty of the UNC, is in charge of Dr. Antonieta Gutiérrez Rosati, professor at the Agrarian University La Molina, specialized in Plant Biotechnology and Biosecurity, and adviser to honor of Sierra Exportadora.

Its objective is to train professionals who understand that state-of-the-art technology is no longer only applied at the research level in laboratories, but also at the service of small and medium farmers in the field. "It is time that in our country, technology leaves the laboratories to the field. Only then will we ensure that we have high quality material that guarantees good productivity and be more competitive in the Berries market, "Gutiérrez Rosati said.

He said that Biotechnology is necessary in Berries and other fruit crops, because Peru is currently competing against Berries producing countries such as Chile and Argentina that do use state-of-the-art technologies. "We must ensure that the technology is used by the small and medium-sized farmer, who must lose the fear of the technological advances that currently exist in favor of agriculture," said the specialist.

Taking into account that the Berries crops demand a strong investment in the field, it is not fair to risk that the producers lose all the investment. For this reason, he added, "Sierra Exportadora is interested in promoting not only the entry of different types of Berries into the national territory, but also to create national capacities so that this crop can be developed in the shortest possible time, with the assurance that there will be a sustainable development. "

In turn, the Head of Sierra Exportadora in Cajamarca, Randy Barreto Alegría, indicated that fulfilling the objective of the Senior Management of the aforementioned public body, to convert the Cajamarca region into the "Capital of the Berries"; From this Decentralized Headquarters, this Theoretical-Practical Course has been organized.

He explained that the course is aimed at professors of the specialty, university students in the area of agronomy, biological sciences, natural sciences, forestry, as well as agricultural producers, civil servants and public and private servants, among others, so that from the so-called "Ciudad del Cumbe" will promote this new biotechnology trend in the Berries Productive Chain.

Source: Sierra Exportadora Peru