CATIE Welcomes Students from Trinidad and Tobago for Study Tour in Costa Rica

• CATIE reaffirms its commitment to leading the way in promoting sustainability and agricultural development, and looks forward to welcoming more students and professionals from around the world..

On Monday, May 6th, CATIE (Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center) had the honor of hosting a group of students from the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT).

The visit, organized by the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the UTT International Study Tour, focused on learning about CATIE's innovative work in various areas, such as entrepreneurship, renewable energy, agricultural product processing, ecotourism, manufacturing and operations, and supply chain management.

The group, comprised of 13 students from the Master's program in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing, and Entrepreneurship, along with two staff members and 3 representatives from the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago, had a full itinerary during their visit to CATIE.

The day began with a tour of CATIE's International Coffee Collection, where they had the opportunity to learn about the advances in genetic improvement that we have achieved and the biotechnological applications in agriculture.

Later, the group visited the International Cocoa Collection, a fundamental area for the study and preservation of this important crop. Additionally, they learned about CATIE's work to enhance its tolerance to diseases.

Next, the students toured CATIE's Botanical Garden, home to a wide range of plant and tree species, providing them with a broader understanding of biodiversity and the potential for developing sustainable agricultural practices.

Following this, the group headed to CATIE's commercial farm, where they had the opportunity to learn about silvopastoral systems and sustainable livestock farming, both crucial elements of CATIE's commitment to green and inclusive development.

Subsequently, they visited CATIE's Graduate School, where the Dean explained to them about the available programs and CATIE's educational model. 

The visit concluded with a meeting with CATIE's Director General, where the students and UTT staff shared their insights and discussed potential future collaborations between the two institutions.

During this meeting, the importance of building collaborative relationships to promote knowledge exchange and encourage sustainable practices in agriculture was highlighted.

CATIE extends its gratitude to the Embassy of Trinidad and Tobago for facilitating this visit and looks forward to further collaboration with UTT to foster academic exchange and the development of joint projects.