Monday, November 13, 2006
40-16

Agroecology Program at Florida International University.

Krish Jayachandran, Mahadev Bhat, Giddy Bobeche, Cristina Cuadrao, and Assefa Malesse. Florida International Univ, 11200 SW 8th ST, Miami, FL 33199

A project on curriculum development and student training program that focuses on a critical interface between agriculture, natural ecosystems and urban communities is in progress at Florida International University. The proposed Agro-Ecology curriculum is an innovative model for attracting students into agriculture sciences from a large Hispanic community in South Florida, which resides predominantly in an urban environment. Founded on a network of institutions, the program will enhance students’ scientific expertise to understand this triangular interface. Through this project, we hope to build a capacity of experts who will creatively address human and environmental challenges that are often presented to agriculture sectors in areas next to large urban and natural systems.