By Eugenio Amézquita Velasco
As part of the 50th anniversary of the Biochemical Engineering program at the National Technological Institute of Mexico (TecNM) Celaya campus, academics and researchers are driving a strategic partnership for scientific and international collaboration with Texas A&M University, aimed at strengthening the region's agricultural sector.
The project seeks to integrate university expertise with the real needs of the Guanajuato countryside, focusing primarily on the production and export of high-value agrifood products, such as avocado and dragon fruit (pitahaya).
Strengthening food safety and commercialization
One of the priority areas addressed during this meeting is the implementation of strict food safety standards. Dr. Alejandro Castillo, a professor and researcher at Texas A&M University, highlighted the importance of complying with international export regulations to protect both consumer health and the economy of local growers.
"A single food safety issue at the border can lead to trade closures, discredit, and irreparable losses for a country's agricultural sector. The goal is to provide technical support to ensure safe, high-quality food at competitive prices," noted the American specialist.
Additionally, the working group addressed one of the main challenges facing small and medium-scale farmers: collection capacity and the volume required to supply industrial and export demand. In this regard, the inclusion of economics specialists was proposed to design associative mechanisms that allow pooling individual production and consolidating supply in the international market.
Academic partnerships and social benefit
For his part, Dr. Enrique Botello, coordinator of the Biochemical Engineering program at TecNM Celaya, emphasized the importance of consolidating this network between academia and productive sectors to create development opportunities for students and generate solutions with a direct impact on the state's farmers.
With this initiative, the academic institutions reaffirm their commitment to serving as an engine of technological and economic development for Guanajuato's agricultural sector, converting university research into concrete benefits for the field.
Interview transcript with Dr. Alejandro Castillo and Dr. Enrique Botello
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco, journalist:
Well, I am here with Dr. Alejandro Castillo from Texas A&M University, right? I'm not very good at English, you see.
And first of all, welcome to Mexico, Doctor. We are at the facilities of the Biochemical and Environmental Engineering program at the National Technological Institute of Mexico in Celaya.
Doctor, a very interesting discussion. We see that an effort is being made to establish a joint research partnership. Come over, Doctor, come over, because he is our host here, Dr. Botello—good friend Enrique Botello.
Thank you, Doctor, thank you. Well, we were asking... I saw dragon fruit producers and avocado producers around. I also mentioned something about—in case it comes up, though I don't know if it applies to pomegranates as well—seeking an approach, an exchange of researchers to work here in Mexico, see all the potential, and ensure this doesn't remain just words, but leads to action, commercialization, and all those aspects.
Thank you, Doctor. I don't know what else Dr. Alejandro Castillo can share with us. Thank you, Doctor. What can you tell us about this meeting? What can you share with us?
Dr. Alejandro Castillo:
Well, I see it as a great opportunity for foreign institutions, especially from the United States, which is a country that buys products from Mexico. It's a chance to see how we can diversify the supply of fruits and vegetables over there, improve nutrition, but from my point of view, also support efforts to comply with food safety standards, which is key.
That’s the issue: Mexico sends a lot of produce—well, all of Latin America sends a lot of produce—and if they fail, they pay the price. And not just that—if it passes the border and a food safety problem arises where people get sick or whatever, the exporting country pays a very high price through border closures and discredit.
It happened with lettuce, with cilantro, and to Guatemala with raspberries, from which they never recovered. So there are many stories about how even a country's economy, trying to move forward, can be affected simply because our buyers face a problem, get sick, and a huge discredit follows.
The goal is also to help maintain that commercial relationship. When I buy in the United States, we buy a product of very good quality, safe, and at a good price. So it pays well, people like it, and they get plenty of nutrients at a good cost.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco, journalist:
It's clear to me that this is an initial meeting, a first approach.
Of course, you'll meet again at a later date, and I understand with additional researchers.
Dr. Alejandro Castillo:
That’s the plan. I will try to charm a few researchers into coming with me from over there. We'll join forces with the researchers here from the technological institute, from TecNM Celaya. As universities, I also want to strengthen international academic relations, so...
And the institute has a very good reputation, as said by someone from Texas A&M.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Wow! Now we're talking about something big. And well, turning to Dr. Botello to my right, the coordinator of the Biochemical Engineering program, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this month of October.
Doctor, how did this collaboration come about? How was it achieved?
Dr. Enrique Botello:
Basically, Dr. Alejandro has been coming to visit us for many years. Bringing a researcher with such a long trajectory from a university like Texas A&M fills us with pride. The doctor has always cared about inspiring students.
This recent outreach to local growers came from a conversation we had on our way back from Querétaro. Hopefully, it brings real benefits to the producers and strengthens TecNM's connection with Texas A&M University.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco:
Indeed. And building on that, I wanted to ask Dr. Alejandro Castillo... It seems one of the growers' primary concerns is collection capacity and production volume, right?
Sometimes it’s like artisans—they make five or six pieces a month, and suddenly they connect with industry and are asked for 20,000, which isn't feasible because the production volume isn't enough to meet demand.
I heard about the possibility of bringing in an economist to determine what steps to take, establishing mechanisms to make commercialization viable.
Is there truth to what I'm describing?
Dr. Alejandro Castillo:
Of course there is. For many years, I've said that the famous Mexican saying "no somos machos pero somos muchos" (we may not be tough, but there are many of us) applies here.
There are many producers here. Farmers and small growers often tend to protect their own niche, which is fine, but we must find a way—without anyone taking advantage—for them to unite so everyone wins. That way, by pooling many small outputs, they build substantial volume.
Eugenio Amézquita Velasco, journalist:
Exactly. Dr. Alejandro, thank you very much for this interview.
Dr. Botello, a familiar face here.
I am Eugenio Amézquita, and this is Guanajuato Desconocido and Metro News. #MetroNewsMx #GuanajuatoDesconocido
