New Variety of Fortaleza FL Rice Seeks to Strengthen National Production in Costa Rica

With the aim of reducing the vulnerability of the rice sector and improving its competitiveness, Semillas del Nuevo Milenio S.A. (SENUMISA), a member of FLAR in Costa Rica, launched the Fortaleza FL variety on the market. This variety of FLAR origin is the 110th released by the Fund’s members in 15 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the fifteenth launched by SENUMISA in the country.

Rice is a fundamental food in the diet of Costa Ricans, with a per capita consumption of 50.27 kilograms per year (according to 2022-2023 data from the National Rice Corporation-CONARROZ). However, the country has recently experienced a decrease in national production with a 59% drop in the planted area, going from 35,317 hectares in 2021-2022 to 13,709 hectares for the 2023-2024 harvest.

This drop has been aggravated by the implementation of the policy known as “La Ruta del Arroz” (The Rice Route), which eliminated tariffs and price regulations for imported rice, significantly increasing imports and generating effects for both producers and consumers.

“Although the implementation of this policy definitely put a very strong brake on the development of rice cultivation in Costa Rica, we are trying to establish support and collaboration agreements with CONARROZ, with the National Seed Office and with groups of producers and industries, in such a way that we can move the rice sector forward by providing them with better profitability with the use of FLAR varieties, as is the case of Fortaleza FL,” says Norman Oviedo, general manager of SENUMISA.

What does Fortaleza FL contribute?

Fortaleza FL is an intermediate cycle variety (115 to 120 days), adapted to both irrigation and rainfed systems. It meets the milling and culinary quality standards required by the Costa Rican industry, and offers a high yield potential. In addition, it shows good tolerance to the main rice diseases such as pyricularia and the white leaf virus.

Currently, in Costa Rica, at least 10 varieties are cultivated in more than 99% of the rice area, including Lazarroz FL, Senumisa 20 FL, Esperanza FL, Maná FL, Palmar 18, Puitá INTA CL, CR 4477, Sierpe FL 250, Nayudel FL and Nayuribe B FL. However, Fortaleza FL has quickly gained ground: it already occupies 25% of the area planted nationwide, displacing Lazarroz FL in many areas, a variety widely cultivated in the country since its launch by SENUMISA in 2015.

“In the short time of commercial use, it has displaced already consolidated varieties, which demonstrates the good characteristics that producers and the industry have found in the Fortaleza FL variety. Our projection is that it will continue to grow in the Costa Rican market ”, says Oviedo.

An alliance with high-impact products

From the release of Palmar 18 in 2006, the first variety of FLAR origin released in Costa Rica, to Fortaleza FL, the achievements and benefits of the SENUMISA-FLAR joint work for the rice sector have been increasing.

In addition, in June 2023, the country took a further step by joining the FLAR Process Agronomy Program, through an agreement between CONARROZ and the Fund. “In Costa Rica, the development of varieties and yield has made positive progress since we began to implement the FLAR agronomy points,” explains Oviedo.

This agreement has already been extended to 40 producers in more than 1,400 hectares, where key practices are applied such as planting on timely dates, the use of certified seed, integrated management of weeds, pests and diseases, as well as efficient water management, among other essential agronomic aspects.

The introduction of Fortaleza FL together with the innovations in agronomic management promoted by FLAR and its allies in Costa Rica, offers a concrete response to the current challenges of the sector. The future of rice in Costa Rica is being built today, with science, knowledge transfer and collaborative work.