Agriculture: A Sustainable Focused University

A few years back I had the opportunity to go to a Business Policy class trip to Costa Rica in 2008. We toured the Chiquita Banana plant and I had no idea the size of a plantation until I had seen it with my own eyes. Banana trees were everywhere; acres and acres and acres. I thought we were lost. It was the Amazon. The panthers were gonna find me. And eat me. I find it fascinating to see the source of much of my edible consumption. It is one thing to consume, it is another to see where it grows. I will forever rave about the succulent flavor and moment of bliss that overtook me when I ate a banana that had ripened on the tree as opposed to the store. This moment occurred a few years earlier in 2005 in Papua New Guinea. I can not even begin to explain to you the difference. You truly are missing out.

Since my enlightening moment in Papua New Guinea and my re-connection with my banana fondness in Costa Rica, bananas demand a new respect and watchfulness. Which is exactly why I am writing about bananas. Bananas are obviously a tropical production, and interestingly enough, 26.2 of the 95.6 million metric tons are produced from India. The rest of the production is spread throughout southeast Asia and Central and South America. Indias production level shocked me! But with a 1 billion plus population, and a landmass that boasts much tropical region, that is to be expected. And still, Costa Rica remains the homeplace and pride of banana plantations and production, so much so, that a special non-profit university has been created for the efforts of Sustainability. This university is Earth University.

Earth University was started more than two decades ago with a mission "to prepare leaders to contribute to the sustainable development of the humid tropics and construct a prosperous and just society." There vision has been to follow the three pillars of sustainability by having its actions "aimed at building a future in the humid tropics and its communities achieve social, economic and environmental well-being. Since its conception it has graduated 408 students with degrees in Agronomy. These students come from all over the world, mainly from tropical regions, to learn about sustainable efforts in agricultural production and take their knowledge back to their homes and become the effective leaders that sustainability commands.

A project of Earth University has been its 600 acres "Green" banana plantation that was acquired with its purchase of the lands for its University. Their goal has been to produce a better banana for the planet which will include the eradication of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides, the vision of 100% organic production and general sustainable practices. One practice that the University employs is the recycling of banana bags. Many of the competitors have said that it would be impossible but since their success, many of those accusing competitors have adopted the same practice. One competitor, Dole, has recycled 1,900 tons of plastic a year! Remarkable!

Still, with the heart and vision that they have, one problem eludes them. There is a fungus, black sigatoka, that shrinks bananas and eventually kills it. Another problem is a worm-like nematode called Radopholus Similes, that attacks the roots and causes the banana plants to suffer malnutrition. But Earth's farmers have produced fertilizers that utilize "effective microorganisms"-benign bacteria, yeast, and fungi that crowd out nematodes and minimize disease. Protection of my beloved bananas.

Earth University's practices have been mimicked around the world and they are looked at as leaders of sustainable development. Earth University proves to provide an opportunity for the world to have a localized  focus and seek out an education and skill set that ensures the sustainability of the local community. It's not all about conservation. It's not all about society. Its not all about the money. It's all of them combined in an equitable distribution of focus and effort.

Sources:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/05/080506-bananas_2.html
http://www.earth-usa.org/Page5365.aspx
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/04/080422-earth-university.html