This agricultural innovation initiative focuses on strengthening the value chain in the province of Chiriquí through the Ideathon and Hackathon methodology. The IHCAVA program employs a multidisciplinary approach that connects local producers with technological talent and specialized consulting from INNOBUC. The IHCAVA program integrates cutting-edge methodologies and technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Agrotech to transform the province's productive sector. The process is structured into two key phases. Ideathon (January 27-28, 2026): A phase dedicated to diagnosing and identifying critical challenges to build viable proposals aligned with the realities of production and marketing. Hackathon (February 25-26, 2026): A technical execution stage where selected ideas are turned into functional prototypes and Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), using tools like Agrotech and digital traceability. Fumiya Naito, head of JICA's Cooperation Team in Panama, highlighted that this effort articulates the public, academic, and private sectors to generate a sustainable impact. Gladys Bernett, Director of Business Innovation at Senacyt, emphasized that the alliance seeks to integrate good international practices that strengthen productivity and sustainable development in strategic territories like Chiriquí. The expected final result is the creation of software or hardware solutions that respond to the real needs of Chiriquí producers, closing the technological gap and modernizing the processes of storage, transport, and agro-industrial distribution in the country.
