AGP Executive Report

AI in the wild: Emory and Georgia Tech unveiled CapuchinAI, an open-source, battery-powered field platform that uses facial recognition plus touchscreen tasks to automate cognitive testing of wild capuchin monkeys in Costa Rica’s Taboga Forest Reserve. Wildlife monitoring: Costa Rica researchers reported a 2026 jabiru breeding snapshot—nine active nests, 19 chicks, and a minimum estimate of 148 jabirus—highlighting ongoing wetland pressure. Marine science: A Costa Rican nesting olive ridley turtle was spotted with a remora hitchhiker still attached on land for 19 minutes, offering rare clues about how these riders handle brief beach time. Conservation & climate: A long-running Costa Rica study supports ecologist Daniel Janzen’s 1967 warning that tropical mountain species can get trapped as warming removes cooler refuges. Policy & trade: Americas officials meeting in San José urged food-trade rules to be transparent and science-based amid EU maximum residue limit concerns. Connectivity strategy: The US-backed 6G “Call to Action” added Costa Rica among partners aiming to coordinate secure next-gen networks and counter China’s telecom influence.

Wildlife Tech in Costa Rica: Researchers reported a rare remora “hitchhiker” clinging to a nesting olive ridley sea turtle on Playa Pejeperro, surviving about 19 minutes on land before being returned to the ocean. AI for Field Science: Emory and Georgia Tech unveiled CapuchinAI, an open-source, battery-powered touchscreen + facial recognition system that automates cognitive testing of wild capuchins in Costa Rica’s Taboga Forest Reserve, identifying individuals with ~97% accuracy and letting monkeys learn reward tasks with minimal human handling. Conservation Updates: Costa Rica’s 2026 jabiru monitoring recorded nine active nests, 19 chicks, and a minimum of 148 jabirus across key river basins—cautious hope, not a full safety guarantee. Public Health Alert: The CDC issued a Level 2 notice for chikungunya in Guanacaste (notably Playa Langosta/Tamarindo), flagging local mosquito transmission risk during peak travel season. Food & Trade Policy: IICA officials in San José urged Americas governments to push for science-based, transparent EU rules on pesticide residue limits to avoid de facto import barriers.

6G Push: The Trump administration launched a global 6G alliance with 20+ partners, including Costa Rica, aiming for open, secure, AI-ready next-gen networks and faster government coordination ahead of 2030s rollout. Public Health: The CDC placed Costa Rica’s Guanacaste (Playa Langosta/Tamarindo area) on Level 2 “enhanced precautions” due to a chikungunya outbreak with local mosquito spread. Agri-Trade Policy: Americas agriculture officials in San José warned that an EU plan on maximum residue limits could become a de facto trade barrier, urging science-based, transparent rules. Local Research & Conservation: A Costa Rica restoration study revisited an orange-peel waste experiment from the late 1990s, finding the pasture had regenerated into dense woodland. Student Science in Costa Rica: Five Philadelphia students returned with college credit after 10 days of hands-on rainforest research on native ants and biodiversity. Rehab Tech in Latin America: Ecuador’s health regulator cleared Wandercraft’s Atalante X exoskeleton for rehabilitation, supporting Latin American expansion. Longevity Program: Costa Rica formalized “Costa Rica Centenaria,” adding home medical visits for Nicoya centenarians to reduce travel barriers to care.

Agri-Food Policy: At IICA in San José, Americas officials urged transparency and science-based rules for agri-food trade, warning EU plans on crop-protection residue limits could become a de facto import barrier. Next-Gen Connectivity: The Trump administration launched a global 6G alliance with 20+ partners, including Costa Rica, aiming for open, secure, AI-capable networks and faster coordination toward 2030s deployments. Public Health: The CDC placed Costa Rica’s Guanacaste (Playa Langosta/Tamarindo area) on Level 2 for chikungunya, citing local mosquito spread and advising enhanced precautions. Conservation & Research: A Costa Rica restoration study revisited how spreading orange peel waste on degraded pasture helped trigger forest regeneration—an unexpected low-cost path to recovery. Wildlife Safety: Panthera Costa Rica and partners evaluated wildlife crossings; crossings show connectivity, but collisions and roadkill remain a problem. Longevity Program: Costa Rica formalized “Costa Rica Centenaria” for Nicoya centenarians, including home medical visits to remove travel barriers. Local Tech/Innovation: JanusHermes launched a multilingual property search platform for buying abroad, adding local market context to listings. STEM Education: Philadelphia students returned from a Costa Rica rainforest research trip studying native ants and biodiversity, earning college credit.

Chikungunya Alert: The CDC issued a Level 2 “practice enhanced precautions” notice for Costa Rica’s Guanacaste, tied to a local outbreak in Playa Langosta (Tamarindo area), where mosquitoes are now spreading the virus after lab-confirmed cases. Public Health & Equity: A National University (UNA) investigation says 557,000 Costa Rican minors live in basic or extreme poverty, while National Care Network coverage reaches only about 12% of those who need it. Study Abroad (Healthcare): A Costa Rica-based program, “Costa Rica: Striving for Affordable Care,” is giving students hands-on exposure to the country’s health system and care culture. Rehab Robotics Expansion: Wandercraft’s self-balancing exoskeleton Atalante X received ARCSA clearance in Ecuador for multiple neurological conditions, signaling broader Latin American rollout momentum. Longevity Policy: Costa Rica formalized “Costa Rica Centenaria,” putting Nicoya centenarians on a government-supported care plan with home medical visits via the Social Security Fund. Agribusiness: Costa Rica’s mango exporters are pushing a quality-first strategy to capture better prices during the February–April export window. Wildlife Safety: Researchers evaluated Costa Rica’s wildlife crossings and found more connectivity, but roadkill still persists.

Chikungunya Alert: The CDC has issued a Level 2 “practice enhanced precautions” notice for Costa Rica’s Guanacaste beach region after chikungunya reappeared locally in Playa Langosta/Tamarindo, with the Ministry of Health tracing confirmed and probable cases to mosquito-driven spread—raising risk for peak summer travelers. Rehab Robotics: Wandercraft’s self-balancing exoskeleton Atalante X received ARCSA clearance in Ecuador for rehab use in spinal cord injury, stroke hemiplegia, and multiple sclerosis, signaling momentum for advanced mobility tech across Latin America. Wildlife Safety: Costa Rica is evaluating wildlife crossings on Routes 1 and 160: 36 species used the structures, but roadkill still persists, and some big cats weren’t recorded using them—pushing for better connectivity and maintenance. Longevity Policy: Costa Rica formalized “Costa Rica Centenaria” for Nicoya’s Blue Zone centenarians, including home-visit care via the Social Security Fund to cut travel barriers. Agrifood Strategy: Costa Rica’s mango push leans into quality and timing, targeting high-value varieties and export windows to compete despite high production costs. Optometry Leadership: Optometry Giving Sight named Costa Rican myopia-management specialist Javier Prada-López to its board. Animal Health Tech: USDA plans a phased reopening of southern U.S. livestock ports as New World screwworm control efforts continue after cases spread from Mexico.

Public Health: The CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica after a chikungunya outbreak was confirmed in Playa Langosta, with local mosquito spread and 16 cases recorded this year. Aging & Care Delivery: Costa Rica is putting Nicoya’s centenarians on the government payroll via “Costa Rica Centenaria,” including home-visit care by doctors and nurses through the Social Security Fund. Conservation Tech: Costa Rica evaluated wildlife crossings on Routes 1 and 160: 36 species used the structures, but roadkill still hit 20+ species in six months, and some big cats weren’t recorded using crossings. Property Tech: JanusHermes launched native-language property search across 50+ countries, including Costa Rica, with district-level filters and local market context. Animal Health Research: The U.S. is testing genetically modified screwworm flies in Panama to strengthen the regional eradication effort as the pest spreads again. Longevity Culture: Blue Zone coverage keeps spotlighting Costa Rica’s Nicoya alongside Ikaria and Sardinia, with new reporting and studies probing what “super-agers” do differently.

Mosquito-borne health alert: The CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica after chikungunya reappeared, with an outbreak identified in Playa Langosta (Guanacaste) and local mosquito spread reported. Wildlife safety research: Costa Rica evaluated wildlife crossings on Routes 1 and 160: 36 species used the structures, but roadkill still persists, with monitoring protocols now in place. Animal health threat: The New World screwworm is expanding again; USDA outlined a phased reopening of southern U.S./Mexico livestock ports, contingent on Mexico’s control plan, after cases were confirmed in Texas and beyond. Public health case update: Costa Rica confirmed a third mpox case, with the patient in Heredia. Tech & skills for businesses: MICITT launched a free 5G training program for Costa Rican MSMEs, offering a 200-hour digital growth track. Energy & investment: Costa Rica cleared a legal path for RECOPE to move beyond petroleum, while a fintech story highlights regional capital momentum with Ábaco raising US$53M. Security: Costa Rica’s OIJ arrested “Diablo” (Alejandro Arias Monge) in a major operation near the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border.

Forensic Science & Mining: Brazilian police are using a “gold lab” approach that reads a seized sample’s chemical fingerprint to trace illegal Amazon gold back to its source—highlighting a gap Costa Rica has faced in the Crucitas case, where prosecutors have struggled to prove where the gold actually came from. Public Health: The CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica after chikungunya reappeared, with an outbreak centered in Playa Langosta (Guanacaste) and local mosquito spread reported. Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rica’s wildlife-crossing research found many species use underpasses and canopy bridges, but roadkill still persists—prompting new national monitoring and maintenance protocols. Animal Health & Agriculture: With the New World screwworm spreading across the region, the U.S. announced a phased reopening of southern livestock ports, contingent on Mexico’s control plan—relevant to Costa Rica’s ongoing outbreak context. Tech & Connectivity: MICITT launched a 200-hour 5G digital growth program for Costa Rican MSMEs, aiming to boost local digital skills. Security: Costa Rica’s OIJ arrested “Diablo” (Alejandro Arias Monge) in a high-risk operation tied to multiple violent crimes.

Wildlife & Roads: Costa Rica researchers monitored wildlife crossings on Routes 1 and 160 and found 36 species using underpasses/canopy bridges, but roadkill still hit 74 species—prompting new national monitoring and maintenance protocols. Animal Health Tech: The U.S. is testing genetically modified New World screwworm flies in Panama to strengthen eradication efforts after the pest reappeared in Texas and New Mexico. Border Biosecurity: USDA outlined a phased reopening of southern U.S. livestock ports to cattle trade, starting with Douglas, Arizona on Aug. 24, contingent on Mexico’s joint action plan. Local Cybersecurity: A cyberattack forced Costa Rica’s Congress to shut down systems, highlighting ongoing digital resilience challenges. Healthcare & Vision: Optometry Giving Sight added Costa Rican myopia-management specialist Javier Prada-López to its board, boosting regional eye-care leadership. Policy & Prisons: Costa Rica ordered all TVs removed from prison cells and tightened conjugal visit rules as part of measures aimed at reducing organized crime influence behind bars. Tech & Finance: Ábaco Technologies raised US$53M, using token-based structuring under El Salvador’s Digital Asset Issuance Law to speed SME credit.

Animal Health & Biosecurity: The USDA says it will phase back open southern U.S. livestock ports to imports after New World screwworm pressure from Mexico, starting with Douglas, Arizona on Aug. 24, with later openings in New Mexico—contingent on Mexico’s joint action plan. Public Health: Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health and the CDC are tracking chikungunya activity, including a focus on Playa Langosta, with mosquito-control steps like fumigation and breeding-site removal. Cyber & Governance: Costa Rica’s Congress shut down its systems after a cyberattack, underscoring ongoing digital security risks for public institutions. Prisons & Organized Crime: Costa Rica ordered TVs removed from prison cells and tightened conjugal visit rules as part of an anti-crime package aimed at reducing organized crime influence behind bars. Local Tech Leadership: Optometry Giving Sight appointed Costa Rica’s Javier Prada-López to its board, highlighting myopia management expertise across Latin America. Renewables & Energy: A report claims Costa Rica is generating slightly more electricity from wind, water and solar than it consumes, placing it among top “Solartopia” performers.

Cybersecurity in Costa Rica: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly shut down key information systems after an attempted cyberattack, publishing the day’s agenda via the official gazette to keep business moving. Public Safety & Health: Costa Rica ordered televisions removed from prison cells as part of a broader crackdown on organized crime influence behind bars, while the CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for chikungunya in Playa Langosta, urging enhanced mosquito precautions. Crime & Law Enforcement: The OIJ confirmed the capture of “Diablo,” Alejandro Arias Monge, near the Costa Rica–Nicaragua border, with U.S. DOJ/DEA offering a US$500,000 reward. Agriculture & Food Science: Researchers tested pineapple varieties for salt tolerance at IRREC, aiming at more resilient crops for challenging irrigation conditions. Biotech/Environment: Scientists warned that sawfish teeth are still being used in illegal cockfighting despite bans, with Costa Rica named among key supply countries. Tech & Business: Ábaco raised US$53M, using token-based structuring under El Salvador’s LEAD law to speed SME receivables financing. Travel Tech/Connectivity: Southwest announced a new Austin–San José, Costa Rica nonstop flight starting March 13.

Cybersecurity in Costa Rica: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly shut down key information systems after an attempted cyberattack, forcing lawmakers to publish the day’s agenda via the official gazette while IT and security teams assess the incident. Public safety & prisons: The Ministry of Justice ordered all televisions removed from prison cells and tightened conjugal visit rules, aiming to reduce organized crime’s influence behind bars. Health watch: Costa Rica confirmed a third mpox case, in Heredia, with the patient stable and linked epidemiologically to the second case. Fintech growth: Ábaco Technologies raised US$53M, positioning it as Central America’s biggest fintech capital raise, using token-based structuring under El Salvador’s LEAD framework to speed SME factoring. Conservation enforcement: Researchers say sawfish teeth are still being used as cockfighting spurs despite bans, with Costa Rica named among key suppliers—calling for stronger enforcement and action under CITES. Aviation connectivity: Southwest announced a new Austin–San José, Costa Rica nonstop route starting March 13, boosting direct access to the country’s main gateway.

Cybersecurity & Governance: Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly shut down key information systems after an attempted cyberattack, forcing lawmakers to publish the day’s agenda via the official gazette to keep business moving. Prison Tech & Public Safety: The Ministry of Justice ordered all TVs removed from prison cells nationwide and tightened conjugal visit rules, including banning intimate visits between inmates at different facilities. Public Health (Travel Alert): The CDC issued a Level 2 travel health notice for Costa Rica over a chikungunya outbreak in Playa Langosta, urging enhanced mosquito precautions as local transmission expands. Renewables & Grid Math: A Stanford-led “Solartopia” update says Costa Rica is generating slightly more electricity from wind, water and solar than it consumes (104%), alongside other countries hitting or exceeding 100%. Aviation Connectivity: Southwest will launch a nonstop Austin–San José, Costa Rica route on March 13, signaling growing Central Texas demand for Caribbean travel. Local Research: UF/IFAS researchers tested pineapple varieties for salt tolerance to find crops suited to salinity-stressed irrigation conditions.

AI & Communication: At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, AR glasses with real-time translation highlighted how AI is making cross-language communication feel effortless. Local Tech & Business: Peptides Costa Rica is built around serving Costa Rican customers only, aiming to solve local supply delays and quality inconsistency for research-grade peptides. Cybersecurity: Costa Rica’s Congress shut down key information systems after an attempted cyberattack, keeping the day’s agenda running via public gazette publication. Public Health Alert: The CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica’s Playa Langosta after chikungunya outbreaks showed local mosquito transmission; travelers are urged to use repellents and take enhanced precautions. Travel & Connectivity: Southwest Airlines will add a new Austin–San José, Costa Rica nonstop route starting March 13, signaling growing Caribbean travel demand from Texas. Agriculture Research: UF/IFAS researchers tested pineapple varieties for salt tolerance, targeting crops that can handle salinity in irrigation water. Local Health Update: Costa Rica confirmed a third mpox case in Heredia, with the patient stable and under isolation.

Aviation & Tourism: Southwest Airlines will launch a new Saturday nonstop Austin–San José, Costa Rica route starting March 13, with tickets already on sale—another sign of Texas becoming a Caribbean gateway. Public Health: The CDC issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica over a chikungunya outbreak tied to Playa Langosta in Guanacaste, where local mosquito transmission is now underway; travelers are urged to use repellent and take enhanced precautions. Mosquito-Borne Alerts: Costa Rica is also dealing with a confirmed mpox case count rising to three, including a Heredia patient linked to a prior San José case, with health authorities reporting stable condition and isolation. Conservation Tech: A Costa Rica study using long-term camera-trap monitoring found wildlife increasingly uses canopy bridges over time, with animals showing preferences for certain bridge designs—useful data for roadkill and habitat connectivity planning. Digital Trust: Arkose Labs says its India engineering hub is moving from execution to owning core product areas to better defend against AI-enabled bot attacks and fraud.