Dominican Republic produces 1.5 million in vitro plants annually

Santo Domingo.- The Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture operates BIOVEGA, one of the country’s most advanced laboratories for micropropagation and in vitro seedling production, located in La Vega. In 2024 alone, the facility delivered 1,500,125 vitro plants to support 553 agricultural producers nationwide.

BIOVEGA produced seedlings for 16 crop types, including plantains, yautía, garlic, potatoes, strawberries, raspberries, sweet potatoes, yams, table grapes, ginger, and ornamental plants like orchids and poinsettias. The lab has also expanded its portfolio to include 63 imported varieties of fruit trees from Italy—such as blueberries, figs, pomegranates, almonds, and olives—broadening its impact on the nation’s agriculture.

Founded in 2003, BIOVEGA has evolved into a biotechnology center equipped with specialized rooms for media preparation, cell suspension, temporary immersion, seeding, and growth. It also features the only fully glass greenhouse in the country, spanning 7,000 square meters.

Under the leadership of Minister Limber Cruz, BIOVEGA has significantly expanded its capabilities and become a leading supplier of high-value fruit plants suited for the Dominican climate, reflecting the government’s commitment to modernizing agriculture and boosting rural productivity.