College Strengthens Ties with
Cuba

Garth Coffin, principal of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, and Jose Saborido, rector of the University of Cienfuegos, Cuba, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to facilitate collaboration between their institutions.

"This agreement signals our intention to work with the people at Cienfuegos to help solve some of Cuba's agricultural problems as part of our internationalization program," explained Dr. Coffin. "We expect to learn from this process as well as contribute to the transfer of knowledge and technology."

Forced to give up traditional high input agricultural practices in favour of more sustainable farming tactics, Cuba is capturing the imagination of professors at the agricultural college. When trade relations with the former Soviet Union collapsed in 1989, Cuba's available petroleum supply was cut in half, fertilizers by 77 per cent and pesticides by 60 per cent. Cuban farmers were forced to revert to draft power and energy-efficient alternatives such as biofertilizers and biopesticides.

Research involving several faculty members from the Truro college has been conducted on a co-operative farm associated with the University of Cienfuegos. Early results indicate milk yields of cows on pasture can be increased by management intensive grazing, under the tropical conditions of Cuba.

"Cuba is unique in its sustainable agricultural research," explained Ralph Martin, the Nova Scotia Agricultural College's liaison officer with the University of Cienfuegos. "Not only do they have many well-educated agrologists, as we do in Canada, but they also have pressing conditions stimulating them to find workable alternatives as soon as possible to meet production goals."

Plans are being developed for student educational and staff employment exchanges, joint research activities and joint participation in seminars and academic meetings. Students, staff and others associated with the agricultural college are encouraged to contact Dr. Martin if interested in taking part in joint activities.