Costa Rica announced on April 16 the strengthening of its PLANETA VIVO COSTA RICA initiative, which aims to support the national agricultural sector and improve access to international markets. The strategy focuses on promoting sustainable farming practices, reducing agrochemical use, and ensuring deforestation-free production.
The initiative is designed to help small and medium-sized producers by providing a free certification mark that recognizes responsible agricultural practices. This approach is intended to turn Costa Rica’s environmental achievements into tangible opportunities for producers in increasingly demanding global markets.
PLANETA VIVO COSTA RICA operates through the Sustainable Agro-landscapes Initiative (IAPS), which fulfills commitments made under the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use. The IAPS aims by 2030 to create resilient territories capable of producing agricultural goods with zero net deforestation, neutral emissions balance, and climate change adaptation. As part of this effort, Costa Rica has developed a high-precision Agricultural Land Use Map for 2020 that verifies deforestation-free production and supports compliance with international regulations.
According to Franz Tattenbach, Minister of Environment and Energy, “the central objective of PLANETA VIVO COSTA RICA is to protect and promote small Costa Rican producers by ensuring that access to international markets does not depend on costly private certifications but rather on the country’s actual environmental performance at a jurisdictional level.” He said the certification will be provided free of charge so costs do not become a barrier for commercial access.
Víctor Carvajal Porras, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, said: “PLANETA VIVO COSTA RICA converts sustainability into a competitive advantage for Costa Rican agriculture, allowing better production methods to translate into greater opportunities in international markets. This initiative strengthens productivity, boosts competitiveness, and supports our producers in transitioning toward more efficient and resilient agriculture.”
Julio César Trejos, General Manager of Banco de Costa Rica (BCR), said: “For Banco de Costa Rica it is especially important to be a promoter of the sectoral brand Planeta Vivo. This distinction fully aligns with our vision of promoting social and economic development across different sectors while supporting small Costa Rican producers so they can market their products with excellence and efficiency.”
The event introducing Planeta Vivo brought together representatives from public institutions as well as financial, productive, and diplomatic sectors. Organizers say this demonstrates national coordination in response to new challenges in global trade.
Costa Rica hopes this strategy will attract climate financing opportunities while reinforcing its position as a reliable partner committed to sustainable supply chains.
