AGP Executive Report

Clean Water Tech for Honduras: A Honduran nonprofit, AguaClara Reach, is helping communities use easier-to-run treatment systems inspired by AguaClara work, aiming to cut turbidity and pathogen risk during rainy seasons. El Niño Watch for Central America: Forecasters warn an extreme El Niño could drive record heat globally while shifting weather toward heavier rain and storms in places like the UK, and the U.S. is preparing hospital-ship support for Latin America. Food Insecurity in Honduras: Despite higher global crop output, food insecurity persists—Honduras is cited at 41.3% affected, with Indigenous and small-farm poverty closely tied to the problem. Honduras in the Migration Crossfire: Reports say the U.S. has been deporting Mexican nationals to Guatemala and Honduras, drawing pushback from Mexico and raising regional diplomatic friction. Organized Crime & Public Health Approaches: A look at Cure Violence highlights how gun violence is treated like a public health issue, with mention of Honduras among countries using the model.

Public Health & Violence Prevention: A new look at Cure Violence’s “violence as a contagious disease” approach highlights how Honduras and Colombia are among the countries using public-health-style violence prevention, while U.S. funding for related research and programs has been shrinking. Immigration Tech & Policy Spillover: Reports say the U.S. has been quietly deporting Mexican nationals to Guatemala and Honduras as a deterrence tactic, with Mexico pushing back that no agreement exists for third-country deportations. El Niño Preparedness: The U.S. plans to send the hospital ship USNS Comfort to Peru in early 2027 to support disaster readiness as El Niño risks intensify across Latin America. Cybersecurity Benchmark: Costa Rica ranks second in the region for cyber resilience (Honduras trails at 34%), underscoring the need for ongoing investment in protection and governance. Organized Crime & Military Posture: The U.S. signals a shift to expand anti-cartel operations from sea to land, including drone-related counter-drone cooperation with Mexico. Agriculture & Training: IICA and Zamorano helped dairy producers build more sustainable, safer processing skills through hands-on workshops.

El Niño Readiness: The U.S. plans to send the Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort to Peru in Feb. 2027 as Latin America braces for potentially severe El Niño impacts. Healthcare Diagnostics: A study on the Rome Criteria for IBS finds many medical students still lean on “diagnosis of exclusion” instead of positive diagnosis, even after training. Immigration Tech & Policy: A U.S. B-1/B-2 visa fast-track pilot expands to new locations, including Embassy Tegucigalpa, with a $750 expedited booking option that brings earlier interviews but not guaranteed visas. Regional Security Shift: The U.S. is expanding counter-narcotics from sea strikes toward possible joint land operations involving Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala, raising legal and rights concerns. Cyber Resilience Watch: Costa Rica ranks second in regional cyber resilience, while Honduras trails in the index—another reminder that digital safety needs steady investment. Agriculture Training: IICA and Zamorano (Honduras) trained Belizean dairy producers in sustainable production and processing.

Immigration Policy Shock: Mexico says it has no agreement for the U.S. to deport Mexican nationals to third countries, after reports of hundreds sent to Guatemala and Honduras to deter re-entries. Regional Security Escalation: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signals a shift from maritime drug strikes to possible joint land operations involving Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala, as questions grow over legality and targeting. TPS Changes Affect Honduras: A U.S. judge lifted a stay ending Temporary Protected Status for thousands of Ethiopians, with Honduras listed among countries already facing TPS termination. Cyber Resilience Benchmark: Costa Rica ranks second in the region’s cyber resilience index, while Honduras scores lower—an indicator of where investment and modernization may be most urgent. Agriculture Training in the Region: IICA and Zamorano (with Belizean producers) ran hands-on workshops on sustainable dairy production, quality control, and processing—skills that can ripple across Central America. Tech & Society Debate: Coverage continues around “tech fascism” and how Silicon Valley influence is shaping politics.

U.S. Deportations to Honduras/Guatemala: The Trump administration is reportedly quietly deporting Mexican citizens to third countries, including Honduras and Guatemala, to deter re-entries—despite Mexico saying it accepts returns and rejecting “third-country” deportations. Public Safety & Local Policy: In Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu warned private property owners against leasing “surge parking” to ICE, calling it an unwarranted escalation and pushing for public records on local cooperation. Regional Cyber Resilience: Costa Rica placed second in a Regional Cyber Resilience Index (53%), while Honduras ranked lowest in the region (34%), underscoring the need for ongoing investment in security talent and governance. Agriculture Training in Honduras: IICA and Zamorano trained Belizean dairy producers in sustainable production, milk quality, food safety, and processing—linking lab skills and field practices to boost regional competitiveness. U.S. Counter-Narcotics Goes Landward: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. plans to expand lethal counter-narcotics operations from maritime strikes to joint land actions in Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala.

Deportation Tech & Policy: The U.S. is quietly deporting Mexican migrants to Guatemala and Honduras instead of returning them to Mexico, using flights routed across Mexican territory—sparking pushback from Mexico’s foreign ministry. Regional Security Escalation: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the U.S. plans to expand counter-narcotics operations from sea strikes onto land, seeking joint actions involving Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala. Local Tech for Agriculture: IICA and Zamorano (in Honduras) trained Belizean dairy producers on sustainable milk production, food safety, processing, and lab practices—plus hands-on visits to dairy facilities. Science & Heritage in Central America: A study on Nicaraguan avocados links some local varieties to South American genetic lineages, hinting at ancient human movement and offering new options for future farming resilience. Education & Belonging: Research on multilingual students highlights how support networks and language access shape whether newcomers feel connected in U.S. high schools.

U.S. Military Escalation in Central America: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Washington will expand its counter-narcotics campaign from sea strikes to possible joint land operations, naming Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala as targets of deeper cooperation—while rights groups question legality and the lack of public proof. Agriculture Training with Honduras Links: The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), working with Zamorano University in Honduras, trained Belizean dairy producers on sustainable milk production, herd management, milk quality, food safety, and processing. Soil Science for Better Yields: A lab-focused report highlights how Mozambique’s soil testing and plant research teams use chemistry and safety procedures to guide farming decisions—an approach that mirrors the kind of applied research Honduras producers can benefit from. Avocado Genetics Study: Researchers report genetically unusual avocado varieties in Nicaragua that may preserve clues to ancient human migration, using leaf genetics and local knowledge—useful for future crop resilience. Tech-Politics Debate: A new discussion piece argues “tech fascism” is spreading through Silicon Valley influence on U.S. politics, with implications for how technology shapes governance.

U.S. Land Strikes Expand: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says Washington is moving counter-narcotics operations from sea to land, targeting narco-terrorist networks with joint strikes involving Colombia, Honduras, and Guatemala—though agreements and legal rules are disputed. Agriculture Training in Honduras: IICA and Zamorano hosted a five-day workshop for Belizean dairy producers, covering sustainable milk production, herd and forage management, milk quality and food safety, dairy processing, and lab work—plus facility visits. Soil Science Spotlight: A Mozambique soil lab story highlights how trained researchers analyze soil chemistry and heavy metals to guide safer, higher-yield farming. Tech Politics Debate: A new discussion with journalist Gil Durán argues “tech fascism” is spreading through Silicon Valley influence on U.S. politics. Immigration Shockwave: The U.S. ended Temporary Protected Status for Somalia and South Sudan, adding uncertainty for affected families. Education Support: A report on multilingual students’ adjustment to new high schools focuses on building belonging through support networks and language help.

Avocado Genetics Link to Ancient Migrations: A new study in Plants, People, Planet reports genetically unusual avocados in Nicaragua that are closer to South American varieties, suggesting people carried seeds north thousands of years ago—also pointing to future crop resilience. Agriculture Tech Training in Honduras: Belize dairy farmers are training at El Zamorano in Honduras on cattle genetics, herd management, and modern dairy systems, with talks of embryo-transfer tech and improved processing for higher-value dairy products. Forced-Labor Tariffs Touch Honduras: The U.S. imposed Section 301 forced-labor tariffs covering imports from 60 countries, including Honduras, raising new cost and supply-chain pressure for exporters. Regional Digital Ag Startup Picks: IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for Costa Rica’s Digital Agriculture Week (Sept 7–10), including Honduras’ Harvverse, aiming to speed digital transformation across agrifood systems. Workplace Tech & Culture Benchmark: Great Place To Work named the 2026 Best Workplaces in Latin America, surveying 4.5 million employees across 200 organizations. Immigration Shock Hits Labor Markets: In Miami-Dade, nursery owners say deportation and TPS changes are shrinking farm labor, forcing some businesses to cut staff or close. Indiana Jones at Animal Kingdom: Disney revealed details for the new Indiana Jones attraction in Tropical Americas, including Audio-Animatronics and Harrison Ford’s likeness as the first-ever model for the figure.

Disney Theme-Park Tech: Disney World unveiled the official name and details for its Indiana Jones Adventure at Animal Kingdom, including Harrison Ford portraying the Audio-Animatronics Indy and a Maya-themed storyline developed with archaeologists and Maya experts. Honduras Bio/AgTech Link: Belize dairy farmers are training in Honduras at El Zamorano on cattle genetics, herd management, and modern dairy systems, with talks of embryo-transfer technology and improved processing for higher-value dairy products. Honduras Health Monitoring: The Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Americas met in Tegucigalpa, reviewing vaccination coverage and surveillance gaps to keep the region polio-free. Honduras Startup Spotlight: IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for Digital Agriculture Week in Costa Rica, including Harvverse from Honduras, aiming to accelerate digital transformation across agrifood systems. US Immigration Policy Impact (Regional Labor): Reports from Miami-Dade say the end of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, Venezuelans, Hondurans, and others is already hurting farm labor supply, with some plant nursery businesses considering closures. Trade/Forced Labor Tariffs: The US imposed Section 301 forced labor tariffs affecting imports from 60 countries, including Honduras, raising potential cost and supply-chain pressure for importers.

Honduras Health Watch: The Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Americas (RCC) met in Tegucigalpa (July 13–17) and says vaccination coverage is improving, but many countries still miss the 95% national target and 80% district target—plus surveillance and containment readiness remain uneven. AgTech & Farming Skills: Belize dairy farmers are training in Honduras at El Zamorano on cattle genetics, herd management, and modern dairy systems, with focus on Gir-Holstein and Guzerat-Holstein crossbreeds and possible embryo-transfer work. AI & Agrifood Startups: IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for Digital Agriculture Week in Costa Rica (Sept 7–10), including Harvverse from Honduras, as part of a push for digital transformation across the Americas’ agrifood sector. Climate Pressure: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, with NOAA and NASA reporting record-breaking global temperatures—another reminder for Honduras’ heat and water planning. Workforce & Migration Ripple: U.S. moves ending Temporary Protected Status are worsening labor shortages in agriculture, with Hondurans among the affected groups—an issue that can feed back into regional supply chains.

AgTech in the region: IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for the 5th Digital Agriculture Week in Costa Rica (Sept. 7–10), including Honduras’ Harvverse, aiming to speed up digital transformation across agrifood systems. Public health in Honduras: The Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication met in Tegucigalpa (July 13–17) and urged stronger vaccination, surveillance, and outbreak readiness to keep the Americas polio-free, noting coverage gaps in some countries. Climate pressure: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, with NOAA and NASA reporting record heat—another reminder for Honduras’ climate resilience planning. Local tech & business: BAC highlighted a more unified regional banking model across Central America to simplify cross-border payments and treasury management for multinationals. Food production training: Belize dairy farmers traveled to Honduras (El Zamorano) for training on cattle genetics, herd management, and modern dairy systems, with talks on embryo-transfer technology.

AgTech & Agrifood Tech: IICA and a specialized jury picked 15 AgTech startups for Digital Agriculture Week in Costa Rica (Sept. 7–10), including Honduras’ Harvverse, with the goal of accelerating digital transformation across agrifood systems. Public Health: Honduras hosted the RCC’s 20th meeting in Tegucigalpa (July 13–17), urging countries to keep polio-free status through stronger vaccination, surveillance, and outbreak readiness. Climate & Risk: New global temperature reporting shows July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest July on record, a reminder that heat stress is already reshaping conditions across the region. Local Innovation & Business Tech: A Honduras-linked story highlights how community banks can win small-business lending by improving customer experience, pointing to a tech-and-service gap that big banks often miss. Education & STEM: A Honduras-born educator is named superintendent in the U.S., while another Honduras-related STEM item spotlights research training opportunities for students. Immigration Pressure (Regional Impact): U.S. policy changes around TPS and deportations are driving labor shortages that ripple into agriculture and other sectors across the region.

Honduras Tech & Health: The Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Americas (RCC) met in Tegucigalpa (July 13–17) to review vaccination coverage, surveillance, and outbreak readiness—pushing countries to keep the Americas polio-free while noting gaps where national coverage still falls short of 95%. AgTech Innovation: IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for Costa Rica’s Digital Agriculture Week (Sept 7–10), including Harvverse (Honduras), aiming to speed up digital transformation across agrifood systems. Climate Pressure: July 2026 tied with July 2024 as the hottest month on record, with NOAA and NASA reporting record heat—another warning for Central America’s climate resilience planning. Local Education Leadership: Champaign Unit 4 named Geovanny Ponce, born and raised in Honduras, as superintendent, highlighting a focus on student achievement and teacher-family support. AI & Finance (Regional): BAC outlined how it’s moving toward a single regional banking model across Central America to simplify cross-border payments and treasury management.

U.S.-Backed Security Push in Colombia: Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella approved U.S. “joint military operations” to fight narco-terrorism and joined the Coalition Against Cartels in the Americas (A3C), signaling tighter regional security cooperation. Israel Diplomacy Shifts Across Latin America: Venezuela and Colombia moved to restore or expand ties with Israel, including consular services and embassy steps, showing how quickly governments can realign after earlier breaks. Honduras Education Leadership: Champaign Unit 4’s new superintendent Geovanny Ponce—born in Honduras—laid out a student-success vision focused on teacher support, family relationships, and boosting low-performing areas. Honduras BPO Growth: ibex CEO Bob Dechant met Honduras President Nasry Asfura to expand the country’s customer-service and AI-enabled outsourcing sector, with plans to hire 400 workers in Tegucigalpa by year-end. Honduras Wildlife Science: An eight-year international effort produced Honduras’ most comprehensive mammal inventory in nearly 30 years, confirming 227 native species and flagging uncertainty for more. Climate Pressure: July 2026 tied as the hottest July on record globally, with major heat impacts reported across regions including Central America.

Biodiversity Update (Honduras): An eight-year international review has confirmed 227 native mammal species in Honduras (plus 3 introduced rodents), with up to 28 more species possibly still to be verified, filling a major gap since the last comprehensive inventory in 1998. Public Health (Americas): The Regional Commission for the Certification of Poliomyelitis Eradication in the Americas met in Tegucigalpa and urged stronger vaccination, surveillance, and outbreak readiness to keep the region polio-free, noting uneven coverage below 95% in some countries. AgTech (Central America): IICA selected 15 AgTech startups for Costa Rica’s Digital Agriculture Week (Sept. 7–10), including Honduras’ Harvverse, aiming to speed up digital transformation in agrifood systems. Climate (Region-wide): New analyses of Copernicus data report July 2026 as the hottest July on record, with extreme heat affecting parts of Central America and raising food-insecurity concerns for countries including Honduras. Nearshoring & Jobs (Honduras): ibex says it met Honduran leaders to expand the BPO sector and plans to hire 400 employees in Tegucigalpa by end-2026.