Land Use can be captured and used for fertilizer. Dairy cows graze in rotational pastures and provide milk for the kitchen. Among the foods provided on-site are pork, beef, milk, lettuce, carrots, onions, papaya, tomatoes, tubers and numerous varieties of banana and plantain. Currently, about 8% of the food consumed at UGA Costa Rica comes from this on-site production.
residents of Finca la Bella and using these small family farms as sites for field studies. The UGA Costa Rica campus will continue to evolve as a model for diversified sustainable food
On-site agricultural production also serves educational programs, provides opportunities for field research and internships, and supports
UGA Costa Rica will increase on-site food production from 8% to 33% by 2015. community outreach to local farmers, including participatory action research. Students and visitors to the campus can work on the farm and help with the daily milking, enjoying the fruits of their labors at mealtimes. Research is currently underway to investigate organic composting strategies and there are plans to study improved pasture management as part of the integrated farming systems program. Researchers also make the most of the neighboring farming community, for example, reaching out to 16
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“The UGA Costa Rica campus is a model for responsible, low-impact development in Costa Rica. The property successfully integrates a lively campus, a productive farm and protected natural areas in a way that responds to the natural character of the cloud forest landscape. The UGA campus is a wonderful place to visit and learn; every time that I have taken students there, we all arrive impressed and leave inspired.� Alfie Vick Associate Professor College of Environment & Design