Jorge Eliécer Vargas Acosta

Jorge Eliécer Vargas Acosta is an Agricultural Engineer with over 15 years of experience in research and development of banana and plantain crops. He currently serves as a Research Associate in Phytopathology for the Musaceae Program in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT.

His work focuses on the development and implementation of technological innovations for the prevention, detection, and management of tropical Fusarium race 4 and other vascular diseases affecting Musaceae. He applies agroecological principles centered on pathogen suppression and the improvement of plant health through soil management.

Jorge also plays an active role in the preparation and assessment of phytosanitary risk analyses, as well as in the design and validation of biosafety protocols and measures. He has experience in organizing action drills for disease prevention, containment, and eradication, and contributes to the formulation and review of procedures related to the production, commercialization, and movement of Musaceae propagation material.

He promotes the development of smart production systems aimed at enhancing the sustainability of banana cultivation in the LAC region. In addition, he participates in training and capacity-building initiatives for professionals and technicians from national research institutions, national plant protection organizations (NPPOs), and Musaceae producers across LAC countries.