DSU Students Get Sustainability Lessons in Costa Rica

Six DSU students recently returned from a three-week study abroad trip to Costa Rica where they were able to gain a greater understanding of agriculture sustainability.

They joined eight students from Alabama A&M University and Tuskegee University in activities that focused on sustainable agriculture/agroforestry, sustainable tourism, and natural resource conservation. The instruction consisted of a rich combination of field trips, group discussion and exercises, interviews and interaction with researchers and producers.

The group of students – which included DSU’s Lasheda Brooks, Janet Cordero, Covel McDermot, Chanel Moffitt, Chelsea Morton and Ashley Wilson – had an opportunity to experience production and value chain management of several different crops including cocoa, bananas, coffee and pineapples.

The main feature of the mission was the interdisciplinary team guiding and teaching approach by faculty from the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE) to facilitate interaction among the varied backgrounds and majors of students. The highlight of the trip was travel and stay at the indigenous Bri Bri tribal village on the Costa Rica-Panamanian border.

Ms. Cordero, who is pursuing a master’s degree in plant science, said the trip allowed her to focus on an agriculture area outside of her primary graduate studies research.

“My specialty is urban forestry, and on this trip we got to see a lot of agro-forestry systems,” said Ms. Cordero, who is from Dover.

For Ms. Moffitt, a senior Spanish major, it wasn’t her first time in Latin America; she previously did an entire year of study abroad in Chile. She said while it was interesting practicing Spanish in a different dialect, she got a lot out of the field trip that focused on sustainability.

“In the experiences we had in sustainable agriculture, tourism and development, it showed how as individuals we can control those areas by the things we do,” Ms. Moffitt said.

Dr. Sathya Elavarthi, associate professor, and Dr. Marikis Alvarez, associate dean for research, both  from the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences, were the trip leaders.

“The success of this study abroad program is a testament to the partnership between our institutions (DSU and CATIE),” said Dr. Elavarthi. “CATIE faculty and staff were very hospitable; they really extended themselves to make this inaugural student learning experience memorable.”