Rwanda: Experiential Agriculture & Natural Resources
UNL CASNR students in the AGRI 310 course spent three weeks in Rwanda. The group was based at the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture. RICA is an internationally-recognized, accredited higher education institute in Rwanda, that specializes in conservation agriculture and One Health principles. Through this program, students had the opportunity to experience and understand the unique agricultural systems, ecosystems, and community impacts to the production, economy, and security of food, fuel, and fiber in Rwanda. Activities were designed for students to engage with the local community, small-holder producers, and agriculture-oriented agencies and institutions.
Tropical Agroecosystems of Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a beautiful country in Central America that offers a diversity of tropical agroecosystems and is a critically important U.S. trade partner for coffee, sugar, bananas, and pineapple. Local production of cereals, fruits, and vegetables are also increasingly important for food and economic security in Costa Rica. UNL CASNR students in the AGRI 310 course spent 11 days in Costa Rica and visited several farms and agricultural enterprises to learn about tropical food production, processing, and global distribution, and to evaluate the sustainability of these systems. Over 25% of Costa Rican land is protected as national parks or reserves and students had several opportunities to experience the booming ecotourism industry through visits to volcanoes, rain forests, waterfalls, and beaches. Students experienced examples of agritourism that leverage human and natural resources capital and improve sustainability.