Jared Valdez, a student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV), recently returned from a school-sponsored trip to Costa Rica, where he deepened his understanding of sustainable agriculture and tropical agroecology. Valdez, a member of the class of 2022 at Jimmy Carter Early College High School, is pursuing a degree in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems with a focus on Tropical Agroecology.
As part of the trip, Valdes visited various farms across Costa Rica, including those producing coffee, bananas, cacao, and vegetables. The program, hosted alongside Costa Rica’s Center for Tropical Agriculture Research and Education (CATIE), offered students hands-on experience with agroecological practices in a tropical environment.
“Being here in Costa Rica, a place teeming with biodiversity, I have been able to experience the outdoors like never before,” Valdez said. “From cloud tropical forests to barren landscapes by the Pacific, I have dived deeper than any other class.”
Valdez and his classmates explored how sustainable agriculture operates in Costa Rica’s diverse landscapes, gaining valuable insights into tropical farming techniques. “We are visiting different farms to gain a deep understanding of agroecological principles in a tropical setting,” he added.
A graduate of the Jimmy Carter Early College High School, Valdez is eager to apply what he learned during the trip to his studies and future career. He hopes to promote sustainable farming practices within his community and beyond.
