Agribusiness Leader Urges Agricultural Education Overhaul at Punta Cana Summit

Agribusinessman José Ramón Peralta Fernández called for a sweeping update to agricultural education and workforce training during the 28th Agribusiness Leaders Meeting, organized by the Junta Agroempresarial Dominicana (JAD) and held in Punta Cana.

Peralta Fernández argued that integrating artificial intelligence, drones and satellite technologies into farming operations is already underway, but the human capital needed to operate these tools has not kept pace. According to Bávaro Digital, he identified the modernization of training programs as one of the sector’s most pressing challenges.

He proposed a revision of agricultural science curricula so that graduates can meet current field demands. A stronger link between universities, technical training centers and the productive sector, he said, is essential to develop the competencies modern agriculture requires.

New technologies, Peralta Fernández noted, improve decision-making, allow more precise use of resources and raise productivity. But he warned that without accessible financing, small-scale producers will be unable to adopt these tools. The gap between technological availability and the capacity of smaller farms to access it remains a structural problem, he suggested.

The agribusinessman has attended all 28 editions of the JAD meeting. He described the forum as a space to analyze sector challenges and build proposals alongside key stakeholders.

He also highlighted the contributions of women leaders in Dominican agriculture and business, specifically naming Ligia Bonetti and Mercedes Ramos.

The JAD gathering brings together agribusiness executives, producers and policymakers to discuss the direction of the country’s agricultural sector. Its location in Punta Cana underscores the connection between the region’s tourism-driven economy and the agricultural supply chains that support it.

Source: Bávaro Digital.