Strengthening Regional Impact: BRT at the COMUNIDAD Workshops in Chile and Colombia
Experts from the BioResources & Technology (BRT) Division, Communications Manager, Dr. Stacy Hammond and Communications Officer, Masha Gulak travelled to Chile and Colombia as part of the COMUNIDAD project, representing the Czech University of Life Sciences Prague (CZU).
CZU leads both Work Package 5 and Work Package 6 within the COMUNIDAD project. Work Package 5, focuses on the development, testing, and refinement of the COMUNIDAD digital platform, and Work Package 6, dedicated to stakeholder engagement, output dissemination, and knowledge sharing. Together, these work packages support both the technical evolution of the platform and enhance awareness among various groups through engagement and knowledge sharing
With this event, the COMUNIDAD project advanced a key milestone through a series of in-person workshops and institutional meetings in Chile and Colombia, bringing together project partners, regional stakeholders, and technical experts. The visit focused on strengthening collaboration, advancing knowledge exchange, and supporting the practical deployment of COMUNIDAD’s digital innovation tools in real-world contexts.
Colombia: Building Connections and Scaling Impact
In Colombia, the COMUNIDAD project held a workshop at the Universidad Autónoma de Manizales (UAM), bringing together technical teams, researchers, public authorities, and innovation stakeholders to explore the practical use of artificial intelligence, satellite data, and digital platforms for sustainable agriculture and environmental management. The workshop focused on applying and validating the COMUNIDAD digital platform through hands-on sessions, technical discussions on pilot cases from Colombia and Chile, and dialogue on institutional uptake and scalability. These exchanges strengthened regional partnerships and reinforced COMUNIDAD’s role as a data-driven solution supporting climate-resilient decision-making across Latin America.
Chile: Dialogue, Demonstration, and Regional Insight
In Chile, the COMUNIDAD project held a series of strategic workshops in the Aysén Region, organised in collaboration with University of Aysén and the Foundation for Agrarian Innovation (FIA), together with consortium partners and regional stakeholders. The workshops focused on transitioning from platform development to real-world implementation, addressing the use of satellite data and artificial intelligence for territorial planning, climate risk management, and public decision-making. Discussions centred on institutional adoption and long-term governance of the COMUNIDAD platform, technology transfer to productive sectors, and interoperability with existing regional systems. Live demonstrations, pilot results on snow and wildfire risk, and hands-on technical sessions supported regional capacity building, while strong participation from women professionals highlighted COMUNIDAD’s commitment to inclusive innovation. Overall, the workshops marked a key step toward institutionalising and scaling COMUNIDAD’s solutions in southern Chile.
Looking Ahead
The workshops in Chile and Colombia marked an important step in consolidating COMUNIDAD’s regional engagement, strengthening cooperation among partners, and laying the groundwork for continued dialogue. Stay connected for further updates from the COMUNIDAD project as activities continue to unfold across the region!
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