Hambre cero

In Ecuador, bananas are much more than just a fruit; they are the heart of our agricultural economy, representing approximately 2% of the national GDP. However, the shadow of Banana Fusarium Wilt (Tropical Race 4)—a persistent and devastating fungus—poses a constant threat. In this scenario, prevention is not just an option; it is a necessity for survival.

With the aim of ensuring the safety of bivalve mollusks and opening new commercial opportunities for local harvesting communities, the induction and technical evaluation sessions for the DEPUREMOS project ("Mollusc Depuration in Ecuador for Food Safety and Market Expansion") were successfully conducted.

The Faculty of Life Sciences (FLS) at ESPOL successfully held the 5minpitch semifinals, a high-level competition where students from the Nutrition, Biology, and Agricultural Engineering programs tested their synthesis skills, strategic vision, and scientific rigor.

In this forum, designed for future professionals to present their capstone projects in just five minutes, two winning teams per program were selected to represent the faculty in the grand final during the upcoming Feria Idear.

In a key meeting for the strengthening of Ecuadorian agriculture, authorities from the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL)—including María Isabel Jiménez Ph.D. (Dean of FLS), Ramón Espinel Ph.D. (Director of CIR), Freddy Magdama Ph.D. (CIBE Researcher-Professor), Paúl Herrera Ph.D. (Researcher-Professor), and representatives from the Research Results Transfer Office (OTRI)—received Econ. Richard Salazar, Executive Director of the Association of Banana Marketing and Export (ACORBANEC).

Quito – In a decisive step for public health and the guarantee of children's rights, the official establishment of the Technical Commission of the National Council for Breastfeeding (CONALMA) took place. This body serves as a fundamental pillar to coordinate inter-institutional actions aimed at guaranteeing, protecting, and promoting breastfeeding, ratifying it as an essential human right in the country.

The Faculty of Life Sciences (FCV) reaffirmed its commitment to community health through its active participation in the Intersectoral Tables of the Tarqui Parish, which were held monthly throughout 2025. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Public Health (MSP), coordinates efforts between academia and the public sector to address nutritional and epidemiological issues in the area.

On September 17, 2025, the official launch of the project “Mollusk Depuration in Ecuador for Food Security and Market Expansion” took place. This initiative is driven by the Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral (ESPOL) and Ghent University (UGent), with the support of the Technical University of Machala, the Technical University of Manabí, and the State University of Southern Manabí.

The Faculty of Life Sciences at ESPOL hosted the thesis defense sessions for the first cohort of the Master’s Program in Plant Health. The evaluating committee—composed of Dr. Adriana Santos, the respective tutors for each student, and the program coordinator, Dr. Lisbeth Espinoza—assessed seven master’s candidates who presented their degree projects, contributing innovative proposals for the sustainable agricultural development of the country.