Working Paper

Un plan paso a paso para integrar el conocimiento adquirido en la parcela digital y diplomados en los programas académicos.

The digital transformation of the agricultural sector in Latin America has driven the adoption of innovative technologies, including IoT, artificial intelligence, and remote sensing. However, in Guatemala, small and medium-sized producers face challenges in accessing and applying these technological tools to their production systems.

To address this gap, the Bioversity-CIAT Alliance, in collaboration with the Centro Universitario de Oriente (CUNORI)-USAC and other stakeholders, developed the Digital Plot. This serves as an open space for experimentation with agricultural technologies. This is complemented by diplomas in digital topics to build the capacity of teachers and enable them to integrate digital tools and technologies into their classes. While these initiatives represent a significant step towards curriculum updates, achieving deep systemic changes requires strengthened collaboration of multiple actors. This will ensure that education and research effectively address the real needs of producers. This implies a constant commitment to updating curricula and seeking innovative solutions that address the challenges of the food system.

Leveraging the Human-Centered Design approach, this report analyzes CUNORI's experience in teacher training and the integration of digital innovations into the agronomy curriculum. This experience represents a crucial step towards transforming higher agricultural education and can serve as a valuable reference for other institutions in the region. It also drives the development of networks of actors in the country's innovation and knowledge systems, promoting the adoption of digital technologies and the co-creation of context-specific solutions.