In July, I will be moving to Turrialba, Costa Rica to live and work at The Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE) for a 10-month co-op placement. This research center attracts students from across Latin America who are passionate about the environment and creating a more just food system. Alongside my work, I will also conduct research on the relationship between sustainable food systems and economic development in Latin America. Participating in the CPE Program will allow me to conduct a literature review on sustainable food systems in Turrialba prior to departing for Costa Rica. Once I arrive, I will use this funding to cross examine my literature review with my lived experiences at one of the world’s leading agriculture institutions. At the end of the program, I will produce a report arguing that international development initiatives should prioritize sustainable agriculture programs because of the benefit that they bring to rural communities.
Since it started last year, the Clusters of Scholarly Prominence Program (CSPP) has awarded more than $4 million in funding for research on sustainable agriculture, mental health, climate change, suburban mobility, food security, and environmental issues. U of T Scarborough is awarding $1.8 million to… Read more »