Purdue Ag Scouting Cuba
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Purdue University College of Agriculture is laying the foundation for a potential exchange program in Cuba. Officials say, with relations between the U.S. and the Caribbean nation warming, it’s time to become familiar with possible future partner institutions.
Department of Agricultural Economics Professor Gerald Shively says "the opening of diplomatic ties with Cuba unlocks many potential research, education and outreach opportunities. On this trip, we want to begin to lay the foundation for future Purdue activities, keeping in mind that building collaborations and mutual understanding and identifying appropriate activities may take time."
Shively will be joined this week on a "scouting" trip with Steven Hallett of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture and Steve Yaninek, who is head of the Department of Entomology. The group is organizing a study-abroad trip with students for March and will visit local farms, villages and educational institutions through October 31.
Hallet says "this is a trial run of the upcoming study abroad so we can assess the situation and suggest modifications as needed. We want to make sure everything runs smoothly and that we can optimize our March study abroad as well as future partnerships."