Opportunities for Collaboration with Zamorano University, La Escuela Agricola Panamericana

1. Opportunities for Collaboration with Zamorano University, La Escuela Agricola Panamericana Tim D. Davis Department of Horticultural Sciences Texas A&M University

2. Purpose of the July 5-10 visit • Investigate the establishment of a Study Abroad program focused on agribusiness management and agricultural science and production (in conjunction with Borlaug Young Agricultural Scientist Study Abroad Program) • Build upon past collaboration with Zamorano and evaluate other areas for collaborative opportunities (e.g. horticultural education and research) • Trip funded by a grant (Gary Wingenbach, PI) from the U.S. State Department, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs—”…to attract agriculture and natural resources students, under-represented groups in education abroad, and to create long-lasting relationships with our partner institutions”

3. Quick facts about Zamorano Univ. (private international university) • Areas of study: sustainable tropical agriculture; agribusiness/agroindustry; food technology; natural resource management; rural development • Zamorano property has more than 7,000 hectares which includes the campus, farm land, and natural forests (tropical environment—mountains and valley) • Campus located in Zamorano Valley about 20 miles southeast of Tegucigalpa (40 minute drive); elevation of about 1000 meters

6. Quick facts about Zamorano Univ. • Campus has a hotel (Kellogg Center, ca. $41/night), store, and Starbuck-style coffee shop (no a.c. or heat) • 1000 students from 20 Latin American/Caribbean countries (81% receive some sort of financial aid) • 30% female • Students all live on campus, must wear uniforms • Cost for everything is about $5,000 per semester • Faculty from 20 countries (horticulture professor grew up in Utah and has Ph.D. from Florida)

11. Quick facts about Zamorano Univ. • Undergraduate majors (4-year, trimester system): 1) Agricultural Science and Production; 2) Agribusiness Management; 3) Agroindustry/Food Technology; 4) Socioeconomic Development and Environment • Master of Professional Studies Program in Tropical Agriculture (aimed at mid-career professionals) • Outreach programs include continuing education, extension, and applied research

12. Zamorano—The Invisible Curriculum • Rigorous schedule (classes start at 6:30 AM sharp; field/lab/practical work in the afternoon; lights out at 10:00 PM sharp) • Code of conduct “reglamento” (attend classes regularly, no on-campus drinking or drugs, no fighting, permission needed to leave campus)—demerit (falta) system • Students must adhere to institutional values (e.g. uniforms, grooming standards—no long hair for men, keep living quarters clean, respect diversity—individual should be judged on achievement rather than social origin)

14. “Learning by Doing” approach • Students generally spend their afternoons in “hands on” learning activities • Horticultural enterprises include: ornamentals nursery, tree fruit production, fruit and vegetable processing facility, tissue culture lab • Other enterprises include: organic agriculture, tropical ecology/forest management, soils lab, biotechnology lab, dairy, meat processing facility, poultry unit, swine, seed processing facility, agronomic crop breeding, aquaculture, IPM unit, honey processing, stoves lab • Faculty members are responsible for making these enterprises fiscally viable

15. Soils lab-Laboratorio due Suelos

16. Fruit and vegetable processing lab

17. Meat Processing and Dairy

18. Dairy cattle

19. Plant Tissue Culture Lab

20. Seed processing facility

21. Biocontrol Lab

22. Biocontrol work

23. Biotechnology Lab

24. Ornamentals nursery

25. Greenhouse vegetable production

26. Production trials

28. Mango orchard

29. Aquaculture--tilapia

30. Stoves lab

31. Collaborative opportunities

32. Multi-Disciplinary Study Abroad Course • Perhaps a “Field to Plate” treatment of one or more tropical crops of importance to Honduras • Lectures in the morning; “hands on” learning in the afternoon • 5-10 weeks in duration; Hort portion 1-2 weeks

33. Zamorano as a source of graduate students • Their students are disciplined, hard-working, and reliable • Science background may not be quite as strong as we would like • English language skills are generally good • Students have some experience with applied research • Recruiting would be facilitated by our faculty members giving special seminars at Zamorano (housing would likely be covered; airfare is currently around $500) • Zamorano is open to faculty exchanges which could also facilitate recruiting

34. Collaborative Research • Opportunities somewhat limited • Applied research collaboration most viable • Specific areas that might work: testing of breeding lines, cultural practices, postharvest handling of fruits and vegetables • Undergraduate research opportunities might be coupled to a Study Abroad course

35. Ancillary cultural/educational opportunities in Honduras • Many small horticultural roadside businesses (fruits stands, retail nurseries) • Zamorano is a registered botanical garden • Interesting tropical vegetation throughout Honduras • Zamorano cloud forest/nature preserve • Mayan ruins in Copan • Beaches at Roatan • “Third world” environment which is alien to most of our students