INTEC and the Embassy of the Netherlands promote scientific sustainability solutions to climate and agro-industrial challenges
They are developing biofertilizers, bioplastics, and AI-powered simulators to address emergencies such as floods, dependence on agrochemicals, and waste accumulation.
SANTO DOMINGO – The Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Dominican Republic celebrated the second edition of the "Orange Conversations" meeting, a space intended to present scientific research with real applications for sustainable development.
Under the motto "Science with purpose", academics and government experts demonstrated how scientific evidence is the indispensable roadmap to address the urban, energy and environmental vulnerabilities that impact the country.
During the opening, the rector of INTEC, Arturo del Villar, pointed out that knowledge is not an end in itself, but a tool for transformation, urging us to leave behind theoretical science to respond to present-day emergencies such as climate change and food security.
Along the same lines, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Frank Hoorns, pointed out that his nation's territorial limitations have become drivers of innovation. The diplomat highlighted that his country is the world's second-largest food exporter, exporting agricultural technology such as high-efficiency greenhouses capable of using 90% less water.
The meeting included the participation of Ria Holsman and Elaine Van Rimor from Wageningen University and Research (WUR), an institution that highlighted the great geographical similarities that bring both nations closer: the Dominican Republic with 48.000 square kilometers and 11 million inhabitants, and the Netherlands with 41.500 square kilometers inhabited by 18 million people.
In addition, Ria Holsman presented an introduction to agriculture in the Netherlands, from the past to the present, highlighting how agriculture and public policies interact, and how the Netherlands is known for its self-sufficient technology in agriculture and for being a major exporter of agricultural products.
Organic substitutes and bioplastics
During the activity, a scientific panel was held, in which the experts, Yaset Rodríguez, research professor of the Basic and Environmental Sciences Area of INTEC; the graduate of the Biotechnology degree of INTEC, Pamela Tejada, who directs the Laboratory of Reactors and Bioreactors; Juan Salas, executive director of Civil Defense; Dr. Deislen Mariano Hernández, research professor of the Engineering Area, addressed the economic and environmental impact of local projects.
Rodríguez explained the development of biofertilizers from coffee pulp and sargassum, a direct response to the need to reduce dependence on chemical imports in the face of a global fertilizer market with an upward trend of 12%.
This project has already scaled up to a production of 1,000 liters, successfully competing with traditional fertilizers in controlling black sigatoka, a severe pest affecting banana production. Rodríguez acknowledged the high costs of scientific validation, explaining that analyses of heavy metals or metagenomes can reach $1,000 per sample.
In response to the local generation of cassava waste and the growth of the global bioplastics market (estimated at 5.73 million tons by 2029), biotechnologist Pamela Tejada presented the creation of biocomposites.
The INTEC Biotechnology graduate explained that by using thermoplastic starch (TPS) reinforced with tons of biomass available in the country (such as rice hulls, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut fiber), they are developing complementary alternatives to plastic for short-life packaging. To certify the exact biodegradability under ISO standards, INTEC acquired the specialized equipment "BPC Blue Premium Light".
Civil Defense uses AI in response to climate crisis
The impact of extreme weather events was addressed by Juan Salas, a doctoral candidate in Environmental Sciences at INTEC. Salas illustrated the urgency with recent historical figures: the 226 millimeters of accumulated rainfall in November 2022 (a figure not seen in 50 years) that were dramatically surpassed just one year later by 472 millimeters in November 2023.
To combat the uncertainty of the country's microclimates, Civil Defense is developing a forecasting simulator powered by Artificial Intelligence. This system draws on the new citizen application "AlertaDO," which allows for real-time mapping, complementing the government's recent investment of nearly 700 million pesos in Doppler radar.
Finally, Dr. Deislen Mariano Hernández transferred the technology to buildings, explaining the use of "digital twins" to achieve "nearly zero energy" buildings.
He noted that at the university he used his Ercilia Pepín building as a model to demonstrate that the installation of solar energy must be balanced with structural redesigns and intelligent automated controls, warning that, without analysis, the technology can even generate more waste.
About Orange Conversation
The Orange Conversations are a series of forums, conferences, and panels promoted by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in collaboration with INTEC. Their main objective is to create spaces for pluralistic dialogue on issues of global impact, science, and sustainability.