Sativa's Adventure to Utopia

Imagine a world without chocolate. For me this is a scary thought. We live in a time of increasing uncertainty due to rapid alterations of our environment as a result of human activities. Theobroma cacao, also known as the cacao tree and source of chocolate products, is  just one crop that is feeling these impacts worldwide. Now imagine a world where education is at the heart of sustainably cultivating this important crop. Imagine young leaders innovating for solutions to problems arising due to a changing climate and working together to understand the complex processes that occur in an agroforestry system.

My name is Sativa Cruz and this is the story of a project that represents the future of agricultural cooperation and young leaders striving for an inclusive scientific process. I am 22 years old and I am from Santa Fe New Mexico. I am the eldest of three girls in a single parent household. I will be graduating with university honors this May with a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Science and a minor in Sustainable Development from New Mexico State University (NMSU).

When I began my studies I embarked on an unknown journey that has eventually led me to work with people who care about agriculture, education, social justice, and the invaluable chocolate tree. This pilot project is part of a larger effort that began back in November 2014 when NMSU and Universidad De La Salle-Utopia campus students and faculty participated in a reciprocal exchange focused on sustainable agriculture and water management. Partners in the Americas and President Obama’s 100,000 Strong in the Americas initiative funded the “Young Leaders Innovating for the Reinvention of an Agricultural Sustainable Region” project. During this time the team collaborated to create a scalable irrigation design for Theobroma cacao in the university agroforestry system.




Utopia is a campus for rural education that empowers young leaders for positive social change through a rigorous agricultural engineering curriculum. It is internationally recognized as a "Laboratory of Peace" and is a proposal for an educational model that reaches young people from regions who have been impacted by a history of conflict.  Utopia is the dream of Hermano Carlos Gomez, the current Director of  La Salle-Colombia. 

Utopia video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYIoURJnVdU

Utopia website:

http://www.lasalle.edu.co/wps/portal/utopia/Home/QueesUtopia





In April 2015 NMSU hosted Utopia students and La Salle faculty. Every day we continue to strengthen this unique collaboration, and I am thankful to have to opportunity to return to the beautiful Utopia campus where I work with students just like myself that strive to be a positive influence in their communities and world. 


NMSU press release:
https://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/11019/nmsu-hosts-colombian-students-through-100-000-strong-innovation-fund-grant


See the video for partnership:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiznP0PAQ8s




Due to the end of the grant year the project unfortunately came to a close, leaving employment and completion of the irrigation design unfulfilled. Luckily back in October 2015 I wrote a student research grant with the support of faculty from both institutions and was awarded $6,000 to begin the implementation of the system and conduct research that will help us understand system efficacy. The New Mexico Water Resources Research Institute believed in this project and provided the funds to purchase the system and other field supplies. I also presented a poster at  their annual conference.  

https://newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/11459/nmsu-la-salle-project-receives-funding-partners-with-awhere-for-irrigation-project 



Since January I have been working with a group of students from the agroforestry team in order to implement a drip irrigation system for a section of the cacao trees and collect meteorlogical data.  With the help of aWhere information technologies I have been able to freely access their climate modeling website in order to view historical and real time climate projections for the region.
http://www.awhere.com/about/news/awhere™-supports-partners-of-the-americas-100,00


Once  the system is complete and young tree are planted in June, it will provide water to about 600 trees. If successful this design can be scaled up to over 2,000 trees in the future. This will require more funds in order to purchase the supplies, but hey you got to start somewhere! The students have been great colleagues and are always willing to help, it would not be possible without them.



Here are some pictures of recent progress.
The picture below displays unique design in order to lift up irrigation hose when not in use.



Below is an area where young trees will be planted.


Bringing this project to realization has  facilitated international collaboration, and enticed young agricultural leaders through proactive knowledge transfer.  The momentum gained since the initial trip has grown and inspires me continue this work wholeheartedly.

Thanks to help from Aggies Go Global,the Southwest Natural Resources Career Track, and University Honors College, I have been able to visit the field site twice this year and make great progress towards the project.

I will be returning for a three month period after graduation in order to continue research on the agroforestry system and teach English to the students. All the while, I will  improve my Spanish and spend time in a country that has welcomed me like its own.


This project has been a rewarding and emotional journey and inspires me to continue focusing my energy on such a special project. This partnership has been pivotal in my college career, inspiring pursuit of further collaboration through fellowships and providing a potential field research site in graduate school.  


This trip will not be possible without the support provided by my family and friends. I would also like to thank Universidad De La Salle for their support and hospitality. They will be providing food, lodging, and a small stipend in order to support me while out of the country.

The reason I am seeking additional support is for other costs that will be incurred back home while away, such as phone bills, car, insurance, rent, and moving costs for when I return to begin graduate school at Oregon State University in September- So far the cheapest rental for a move that far is about $1,500, not including gas! Please let me know if you know of a better deal.  

Also, I plan on visiting the department of Putumayo in August in order to meet up with students from Utopia who are working on their senior thesis. This secondary trip will provide a learning opportunity in a tropical environment that is quite different from the current field site in the Colombian llanos.



The wish list items are scientific measurement devices that will be purchased if enough funds are reached prior to mid-May departure. Each instrument is important in documenting the story occurring within the Utopian Agroforestry System. These items will also provide a learning opportunity for both professors and students in regards to installation, data collection and synthesis. 
Thank you for taking the time to read about this project and being part of this adventure. I really appreciate your support, anything helps! I look forward to updating you as things progress.

Love and Blessings,

Sativa






ABQ Journal Article:

http://www.abqjournal.com/572565/abqnewsseeker/nmsu-nurtures-colombian-program.html