AGP Executive Report

Asthma & Nutrition Breakthrough: New US research links higher vitamin A to better lung function in children and adults with asthma, and vitamin D to similar benefits in adults, with signals tied to slower biological ageing—using Costa Rica’s GACRS and a second asthma cohort. Biodiversity Shock: A study based on insect surveys in Costa Rica’s Área de Conservación Guanacaste estimates Earth may host 14–20 million insect species, far above the long-used 6 million figure, raising alarms about how much could be lost before it’s even cataloged. Disaster Response in the Region: Venezuela earthquake rescue teams pulled a man from rubble eight days after the quake, while India’s Operation Amistad ramps up field hospitals and supplies. Local Tech & Governance: Costa Rica’s SUTEL is modernizing mobile prepaid registration with Tecnotree to strengthen digital security and trust. Health Travel Trend: Intrepid Travel expands Premium trips, adding Costa Rica among new routes as demand grows for easier, more inclusive planning.

Human Rights Debate: Costa Rica’s president says the country is “up to date” and urges it not to keep showing up in rights-and-diversity forums, but critics argue real equality still lags in daily life—especially for LGBTQ+ people facing discrimination and barriers. Reforestation Reality Check: A new look at Costa Rica’s forest turnaround explains how the country reversed decades of heavy tree loss through protection, planting, and policy—turning restoration into a global reference point. Biodiversity Breakthrough: Scientists report Earth may host 14–20 million insect species, far above the long-used 6 million estimate, with major sampling work tied to Costa Rica’s ÁCG region. Health & Science: A Costa Rica-linked study finds higher vitamin A levels associate with better lung function in children and adults with asthma, while vitamin D may support healthier ageing in adults. Digital Governance: A regional report maps digital platform regulation gaps across Central America and the Caribbean, flagging risks like disinformation and online gender-based violence. STEM in Costa Rica: MIT Camp “Patrones Hermosos” brings a women-in-STEM boost to Costa Rica for the first time.

Flu Forecasting: A new study links flu season patterns across the Americas to one key rule: flu spreads best when air is either very dry or very humid, meaning climate change could calm winter outbreaks in colder regions while boosting risk in the tropics, including Costa Rica. Biodiversity Shock: Researchers estimate Earth may host 14–20 million insect species—up to three times the long-used 6 million—using intensive sampling in Costa Rica’s Área de Conservación Guanacaste. Local Marine Science: A Costa Rica study reports a rare red spiny lobster population hidden in fisheries for decades, genetically distinct enough to be treated as effectively endemic. Digital Governance: A new regional report maps digital platform regulation gaps across Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, flagging risks like disinformation and opaque moderation. AI Supply Chains: The U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative expands to 24 partners, adding Costa Rica and others to a coalition focused on secure AI and critical tech supply chains. Health & Lungs: Separate research finds higher vitamin A levels are tied to better lung function in people with asthma, with vitamin D showing benefits in adults.

Forest Restoration Spotlight: Costa Rica’s dramatic turnaround from losing nearly half its forests by the late 1980s to becoming a global reforestation model is getting renewed attention, highlighting the mix of protection, tree planting, incentives, and policy that helped reverse deforestation. Biodiversity in Focus: A new study estimates Earth may have 14–20 million insect species—up to 3x the long-used 6 million figure—using intensive sampling and DNA work in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste. Local Marine Discovery: Costa Rica researchers report a red spiny lobster population in small-scale fisheries that appears genetically distinct and effectively endemic, raising new questions about how catches are tracked and managed. Digital Governance: A regional report maps digital platform regulation across Central America and the Caribbean, including Costa Rica, and flags major gaps around disinformation, online abuse, and opaque moderation. STEM for Costa Rican Teens: MIT and Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Patrones Hermosos camp is coming to Universidad Fidélitas (July 6–10) to offer free, hands-on STEM learning for 17–18-year-old women. Public Health Research: New findings link higher vitamin A (and vitamin D in adults) to better lung function in asthma patients, with potential links to slower biological ageing. Mobility Pressure: Greater Metropolitan Area traffic congestion is reported as severe—up to 90% of roads jammed at peak hours—driven in part by rapid motorcycle growth. AI Supply-Chain Politics: The U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative adds more partners, bringing Costa Rica into a 24-member coalition focused on trusted AI and secure tech supply chains. Workforce Tech Shift: British American Tobacco plans major AI-led restructuring, including job cuts and outsourcing that reportedly affect roles in Costa Rica among other countries.

Biodiversity Breakthrough (Costa Rica): A new study using DNA work in Guanacaste suggests Earth may host 14–20 million insect species, far above the long-used ~6 million estimate—meaning huge parts of biodiversity remain unnamed and unmanaged. Marine Conservation (Costa Rica): Researchers report a rare red spiny lobster population in Costa Rica’s North Pacific that’s genetically distinct and effectively endemic, long fished without being tracked as its own group. STEM Pipeline (Costa Rica): Universidad Fidélitas will host MIT/Tec de Monterrey’s Patrones Hermosos camp (July 6–10), a free program for 17–18-year-old women to explore engineering, tech, and innovation. Digital Safety (Costa Rica): Costa Rican authorities warn cyber fraud targeting seniors blends public-data harvesting, pressure tactics, and account access tricks, with urgency calls and digital-signature requests. Mobility Tech (Costa Rica): Greater Metropolitan Area traffic congestion is so bad that in some cantons speeds drop to single digits during rush hours, with motorcycles driving fleet growth. AI Restructuring (Global, incl. Costa Rica): British American Tobacco plans to cut or outsource about 9,000 roles globally in an AI-led overhaul, with some Costa Rica service work shifted to partners. EV Economics (Costa Rica): A new take argues Costa Rica’s EV push is mainly about energy sovereignty and avoiding imported oil, not just climate branding.

Biodiversity Shock for Costa Rica: A new PNAS study using DNA from 1.6 million tropical insects sampled in Guanacaste suggests Earth may host 14–20 million insect species—more than double, possibly triple, the long-used 6 million estimate—highlighting how much of insect life remains unknown and how hard it is to protect what we can’t even count. STEM Pipeline in Costa Rica: MIT and Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Patrones Hermosos camp is coming to Universidad Fidélitas (July 6–10) for free, hands-on training for 17–18-year-old women interested in engineering, tech, and innovation. Local Tech & Mobility Pressure: Costa Rica’s Greater Metropolitan Area is seeing congestion so severe that in some cantons vehicles average single-digit speeds during rush hours, with Cosevi citing rapid growth in the vehicle fleet—especially motorcycles. AI-Driven Restructuring Hits Jobs: British American Tobacco plans to cut about 20% of its workforce (roughly 9,000 roles globally outside the US) as it shifts operations toward AI-enabled cost savings and outsourcing.

Digital Identity in Costa Rica: The Supreme Electoral Tribunal’s Costa Rican Digital Identity (IDC) is expanding fast, now integrated with 17+ public and private institutions to enable instant remote identity checks and more online services. Wildlife Crime Watch: Costa Rican environmental prosecutors warn wildlife trafficking is shifting toward organized-crime style operations, with defined roles and routes that can overlap with drug networks. Deep-Sea Discovery: Costa Rican researchers helped confirm a new ghost shark species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, using specimen records plus genetic analysis. Disaster Response: Costa Rica sent a second 48-person urban search-and-rescue team to help in Venezuela’s earthquake aftermath, bringing life-detection and heavy rescue gear. AI Supply Chains: Pax Silica keeps growing as Kazakhstan and the Philippines join a US-led push for trusted AI and semiconductor supply chains. Health Research: AB Science says Phase 1 Step 3 is complete for AB8939 + venetoclax in refractory/relapsed AML, reporting strong response and no dose-limiting toxicities.

Wildlife Crime Crackdown: Costa Rica’s environmental prosecutors warn wildlife trafficking is shifting into organized-crime territory, with roles, routes, and markets that could attract drug-trafficking groups unless laws and enforcement get tougher. Deep-Sea Discovery: Researchers confirm a new ghost shark species off Costa Rica, Rhinochimaera costaricana, based on specimens collected from deep waters and genetic plus body-measurement comparisons. Disaster Response: Costa Rica sends a second 48-person urban search-and-rescue team to earthquake-stricken Venezuela, bringing specialized collapse, medical, and life-detection equipment. Mobile ID Modernization: SUTEL is modernizing Costa Rica’s prepaid mobile registration using a Tecnotree platform to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance, and digital trust. AI Supply Chains: Costa Rica joins the US-led Pax Silica push, as 35 countries back a joint statement on trusted AI supply chains and secure tech deployment. Health Tech Update: AB Science reports Phase 1 Step 3 completion for AB8939 plus venetoclax in refractory/relapsed AML, with no dose-limiting toxicities observed.

Disaster Response: Costa Rica is sending a second 48-person search-and-rescue team to earthquake-stricken Venezuela, adding firefighters, medical staff, paramedics, cutting/extraction specialists and life-detection tech under CNE coordination. AI Supply Chains: Costa Rica is named among Pax Silica partners as the US-led alliance expands at Washington’s second summit, with 35 countries backing a “Joint Statement on AI Opportunity” focused on trusted AI supply chains, semiconductors, critical minerals and secure infrastructure. Telecom Security Upgrade: SUTEL is modernizing Costa Rica’s prepaid mobile registration using a Tecnotree platform to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance and digital trust. Public Health & Climate: A Brown University study links temperature and humidity to flu outbreak timing and severity across the Americas, warning climate change could reshape flu seasons. Wildlife Science: Researchers report climate-driven stress in Costa Rican capuchins, including drought-era infant abandonment, as extremes intensify.

AI Supply Chains: The US-led Pax Silica push keeps expanding after its second summit in Washington, with 35 countries signing a “Joint Statement on AI Opportunity” and new members including Costa Rica, plus a focus on semiconductors, critical minerals, and trusted infrastructure. Costa Rica Telecom Modernization: SUTEL is rolling out a Tecnotree platform to modernize prepaid mobile registration, aiming to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance, and digital security. Climate & Health Research: A Brown University study links temperature and humidity to flu outbreak timing and severity across the Americas, suggesting climate change could reshape flu seasons even for places like Costa Rica. Biodiversity Watch: Researchers report a new deep-sea “ghost shark” species off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, adding to the region’s still-growing catalog of marine life. Wildlife Under Pressure: New analysis of capuchin monkey behavior shows climate extremes can drive mothers to abandon infants, highlighting how worsening droughts may disrupt survival strategies.

AI Supply Chains: The US-led Pax Silica push keeps expanding: Kazakhstan and the Philippines signed new AI opportunity and secure supply-chain commitments at the second summit in Washington, with partners backing pro-growth AI rules and faster semiconductor, critical-mineral, and advanced-manufacturing cooperation. Costa Rica Tech & Telecom: Costa Rica’s telecom regulator SUTEL is modernizing prepaid mobile registration using Tecnotree’s platform, aiming to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance, and digital trust. Local Biodiversity Research: Scientists report a new “ghost shark” species discovered off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, adding to the region’s deep-sea surprises. Climate & Health: A new study links temperature and humidity to predict flu outbreak timing and severity across the Americas, suggesting climate change could reshape flu seasons—including in Costa Rica. Biosecurity Watch: The new world screwworm fly has reappeared in the US, threatening cattle and triggering eradication efforts.

Telecom Modernization (Costa Rica): SUTEL is rolling out a Tecnotree platform to modernize how Costa Rica registers mobile prepaid plans, aiming to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance, and digital trust. AI Supply Chains (Global, incl. Costa Rica): At the Pax Silica Summit, 35 countries signed a “Joint Statement on AI Opportunity,” backing pro-innovation rules and trusted supply chains for semiconductors, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, and digital infrastructure; Pax Silica also expanded to include Costa Rica among new members. AI Logistics Platform (Pax Silica): The U.S. unveiled PaxPass, a $50M effort to streamline movement of critical AI goods with cargo verification and expedited processing for trusted shipments. Climate & Health (Americas): A Brown University study links temperature and humidity to flu outbreak timing and severity, suggesting climate change could reshape flu seasons across North, Central, and South America. Biodiversity (Costa Rica): Researchers reported a new deep-sea “ghost shark” species off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Rhinochimaera costaricana, adding to the rare chimaera lineage.

Telecom Modernization: Costa Rica’s telecom regulator SUTEL is rolling out a Tecnotree platform to modernize mobile prepaid registration, aiming to strengthen user identification, boost regulatory compliance, and improve digital trust. AI Supply Chains: The US launched Pax Silica initiatives, and 35 countries—including Costa Rica—signed a joint statement on AI opportunity at the Pax Silica Summit, backing “trusted and resilient” tech supply chains; the US also unveiled PaxPass to streamline movement of critical AI goods. Climate & Health: A new study links temperature and humidity to flu outbreak timing and severity across the Americas, suggesting climate change could reshape flu seasons in places like Costa Rica. Marine Conservation: NOAA is questioning ship-speed rules meant to protect endangered North Atlantic right whales from vessel strikes. Deep-Sea Discovery: Costa Rica and Brazil researchers described a new deep-sea ghost shark species off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Rhinochimaera costaricana. Food Waste Tech: Researchers say ordinary clay could help slow produce ripening by trapping ethylene, potentially cutting fruit and vegetable spoilage.

AI Supply Chains: 35 countries, including Costa Rica, signed on to the US-led Pax Silica “AI Opportunity” statement at the Pax Silica Summit in Washington, backing a pro-innovation approach and stressing trusted supply chains for semiconductors, chips, energy, and talent. Trade Tech Logistics: The US also unveiled PaxPass, aiming to streamline movement of critical AI goods with cargo verification, AI risk checks, and expedited processing for trusted shipments, plus a $50M foreign assistance push. Local Telecom Modernization: Costa Rica’s SUTEL is upgrading the Mobile Prepaid Registration System with Tecnotree’s platform to strengthen user identification, regulatory compliance, and digital security. Deep-Sea Discovery: Costa Rican and Brazilian researchers documented a new deep-sea ghost shark species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, expanding what’s known about the country’s largely uncharted ocean biodiversity. Food Waste Science: University of Copenhagen researchers say ordinary clay could help trap ethylene gas to slow ripening and reduce produce spoilage during shipping. Earthquake Risk Watch: Deadly back-to-back earthquakes in Venezuela highlight how Central America’s tectonic setting keeps the region vulnerable. Policy Clash: Costa Rica’s attorney general budget fight with President Chaves’ government continues, with new public sparring over funding freezes and institutional rules.

AI & Chips Supply Chains: The EU is set to join the US-led “Pax Silica” push to strengthen AI-related tech supply chains, with Costa Rica named among new participants—raising concerns about extra US constraints on chips and AI equipment. Food Tech: Researchers say ordinary clay could help cut fruit and veg spoilage by trapping ethylene gas and slowing ripening during shipping. Marine Science: A Q&A spotlights Cody Bahlau’s role as chief science officer aboard the R/V Marcus G. Langseth, linking deep-ocean research with education. Costa Rica Telecom Security: SUTEL is modernizing Costa Rica’s mobile prepaid registration with Tecnotree’s platform to improve identity checks, compliance, and customer experience. Deep-Sea Discovery (Costa Rica): INCOPESCA and partners confirm a new ghost shark species off Costa Rica, Rhinochimaera costaricana, using genetic tools. Regional Biosecurity: Central America and Mexico agree to strengthen coordination on New World screwworm control and residue monitoring in milk and meat.

Deep-Sea Discovery: Costa Rica researchers confirmed a new “ghost shark” species, Rhinochimaera costaricana, using decades-old specimens plus new genetic tools—highlighting how much deep-ocean life still isn’t mapped. Low-Cost Volcanic Monitoring: A UK firm’s Raspberry Pi–powered UV camera network (Pi-cam) can flag rising sulphur dioxide before eruptions, and VolcanoTech says Costa Rica sites are planned. AI in Travel (But Not at Checkout): New data shows travelers trust AI to browse longer, yet still prefer humans/known brands to book—Marriott is rolling out about 100 midscale hotels in Greater China. Health Tech in Emergency Care: ESO launched “Prehospital Intelligence™,” aiming to connect EMS data with prehospital predictions so hospitals can prepare earlier and reduce length of stay. Local Science & Policy: A Costa Rica-linked roundtable backed stronger India–Latin America ties, with diplomats including Costa Rica’s ambassador. Regional Investment Snapshot: ECLAC reports Latin America’s FDI rose slightly in 2025, with Costa Rica among the top recipients.