Through its different research programs, Zamorano develops new knowledge capable of resolving problems that affect the region, as well as contributing to its economic and social development. However, no change could take place without the appropriate dissemination of this knowledge.
Zamorano has a vigorous outreach program, which disseminates and promotes the practical innovations resulting from students and professors working together with different social and economic actors in the countries that Zamorano serves. It offers effective solutions that contribute to improving the competitiveness of small and large companies, promoting responsible use of environmental resources and transforming rural life.
“We work together with numerous international collaborators, government agencies, foundations and individuals to provide information, technologies, training and other services to beneficiaries,” says Martin Schwarz, Zamorano’s Agreements and Contracts officer .
Zamorano: Agent of Change
The research and knowledge generated by Zamorano does not stay inside the classroom; rather it is projected beyond the campus to the world. Zamorano’s outreach activities range from supporting small neighboring communities in the Yeguare Valley and forming alliances with the Central American governments to strengthening the capabilities of agricultural producers in Ecuador and Bolivia. The university provides – in addition to education – technical support for projects financed by third parties, training in agricultural production techniques and workshops, as well as presentations of its research results in professional fairs and congresses or through publications of the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Introducing alternatives for pest management. Recently Zamorano concluded the Biological Control Project, which was funded by the Millennium Challenge Account in Honduras (MCA – H). The objective of this program was to provide agricultural producers with viable alternatives for pest management, whose cost is lower and which also diminish environmental impact by substituting traditional pesticides with natural agents.
Raising business competitiveness. Zamorano also developed a program called, “Increasing the Quality and Competitiveness of Agrifood Production in Honduras,” whose principal objective was to increase and improve the competitiveness of the country’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), specifically with regard to food safety and quality. This project is supported by funds from the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB).
Publicizing innovative production practices. In 2010, Zamorano welcomed 25 Ecuadorian and 10 Honduran cattle farmers who came to participate in a course on “Cattle Production in the Tropics” given by professors of Zamorano’s Agricultural Science and Production. The course was targeted at updating knowledge about cattle production in the tropics, focusing on climactic, genetic and production aspects, animal alimentation and milk quality. The course participants were very satisfied with the technical level demonstrated by the Zamorano expositors.
Other aspects of Zamorano outreach include such specific subjects, among others:
- Rural Entrepreneurship
- Agribusiness Administration
- Agroindustrial Food Processing
- Integral Agroindustrial Quality Systems
- New Product Development
- Poultry production and Aquaculture
- Crop, Seed and Grain Production
- Integral Water and Watershed Management
- Alternative Energy Use
The consulting that Zamorano provides for these activities achieves a direct impact on the lives of thousands of individuals every year. It also ensures that its educational programs are relevant for the outside world, guaranteeing that the faculty remains constantly up-to-date in their areas of specialization and that students have invaluable learning activities.
