Honduras

Horticulture Innovation Lab in Honduras

As part of Feed the Future, the Horticulture Innovation Lab has conducted research in Honduras focused on women's empowerment, vegetable grafting, small-scale entrepreneurship, low-cost cooling technologies, and other topics critical to horticulture development.

In Honduras, the program also supports the Horticulture Innovation Lab Regional Center at Zamorano, which serves as a hub for horticulture innovation throughout Honduras, Guatemala, and the Latin American region.

Horticulture Innovation Lab Regional Center at Zamorano

Hosted by the Panamerican Agricultural School, Zamorano, this regional center serves as a hub for horticulture innovation throughout the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region.

This page includes links to Horticulture Innovation Lab research projects, major partners and partner organizations based in Honduras, along with blog articles and information products with a focus on horticulture in Honduras.

USAID Information

Project

Empowering Young Horticulture Researchers in Honduras

Led by Julio López Montes, Panamerican Agricultural School, Zamorano

A fellowship-oriented program that provides seed funding to higher-education students in Honduras to conduct small-scale research projects across the horticulture value chain. Students will be guided through a grant drafting and submission training program to increase capacity in applying for funding, and supporting expertise to implement research projects.

Honduras

Young woman interviewing old woman in sparse room in light from doorway

Empowering women through horticulture in Honduras

Led by Janelle Larson, The Pennsylvania State University

In the Western Highlands of Honduras, families struggle to survive on subsistence agriculture. Poverty and malnutrition rates are high, and take a particularly heavy toll on women and children.

Honduras

Producing local, disease-resistant vegetable seed in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua

Led by James Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Acute poverty and meager economic opportunities exist in many rural regions of Central America.

Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua

Farmer holds up a newly grafted vegetable seedling

Expanding tomato grafting for entrepreneurship in Guatemala and Honduras

Led by James Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin-Madison

In many tropical countries, soilborne pathogens dramatically reduce tomato yields, impacting the livelihoods of rural families.

Guatemala, Honduras

Evaluating cooling and drying technologies in various climates in Tanzania, Ghana, Honduras, Guatemala, Thailand

Led by Lizanne Wheeler, World Food Logistics Organization

This research project is a series of studies comparing cool storage tools and solar dryer designs.

Honduras, Guatemala, Tanzania, Ghana, Thailand

Woman chopping and weighing vegetables in a market in Guatemala

Developing training materials to improve postharvest practices in Honduras and Guatemala

Led by Jeff Brecht, University of Florida

Knowledge of postharvest handling practices necessary to satisfy market requirements limits the success of small-scale producers of horticultural crops to participate in the value chain at various

Honduras, Guatemala

Women scientists discuss CoolBot, air conditioner, and cold storage insulation at UC Davis student farm.

Demonstrating low-cost cooling technology in Uganda, Honduras and India

Led by Michael Reid, University of California, Davis

Temperature management is the key tool for reducing postharvest losses in the developing world.

Uganda, Honduras, India

Delivering food safety education through social networks in Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua

Led by Jeffrey LeJeune, The Ohio State University

Contamination of vegetables with foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms results in foodborne illness and economic losses.

Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua

Farmer and government representative examine a large flower stem.

Expanding the floral industry in Honduras

Led by Alan Bennett, University of California, Davis

Led by Alan Bennett of UC Davis, this international team supports the ornamental business in Honduras as a means to drive development of a local high-value industry, increase trade, and develo

Honduras

Evaluating local tomato and chili varieties for disease resistance in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador

Led by James Nienhuis, University of Wisconsin-Madison

This project brings together the technology and biological capital of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the World Vegetable Center, based Taiwan, with the managerial and technical skills of t

Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua

Training plant diagnosticians across Latin America

Led by Jean Ristaino, North Carolina State University

Plant disease is a limiting factor in agricultural production in Latin America.

Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico

Two young men kneeling by a row of vegetable plants inside a greenhouse.

Improving bell pepper production in passively ventilated structures in Latin America

Led by Bielinski Santos, University of Florida

Bell pepper production in Central America and the Caribbean has become one of the main agricultural commodities for export to the United States and the European Union.

Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Haiti

Professor, staff member and student gather around machine in a workshop setting.

Designing for horticulture development with D-Labs in Honduras and Thailand

Led by Kurt Kornbluth, University of California, Davis , UC Davis D-Lab

Innovative horticultural technologies hold potential to aid in reducing poverty, improving nutrition and health, and improving sustainability and profitability of horticulture activities.

Honduras, Thailand

Developing energy solutions for horticultural production in Honduras and Thailand

Led by Kurt Kornbluth, University of California, Davis , UC Davis D-Lab

Among the most promising disruptive technologies for application to horticulture are those that address the uses of energy in the production, marketing, and processing of horticultural crops.

Honduras, Thailand

Improving outreach methods to small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers in Latin America

Led by Jeffrey LeJeune, The Ohio State University

This project forms an international team of researchers and extension experts to gather preliminary information about current extension methodologies used in Latin America.

Guatemala, Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Building regional capacity in Phytophthora diagnostics in Latin America

Led by Jean Ristaino, North Carolina State University

Plant disease is a limiting factor in agricultural production in Latin America. Plant pathogens cause losses

Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Mexico

Articles

Training participants practicing proper washing and handling techniques for leafy greens in Zamorano University's food safety facility. Workers wearing appropriate food safety gear including hairnets, masks, and protective aprons demonstrate correct produce handling protocols.

Advancing Postharvest Innovation: Training at Zamorano University

Collaborative locally led training initiative locally led by the Horticulture Innovation Lab Central America Regional Hub based at Zamorano University, brings together small-scale producers, private companies, and NGOs to address critical challenges in postharvest handling of fruits, vegetables, and grains across Central America.