Fellowship Highlights

 

 

Raquel Guerrero

During the eight weeks…it was an opportunity not only to expand my knowledge but also to further studies on disease control that we are undertaking at DNPV (the National Department of Plant Protection).  With the training on formulation, I learned how to prepare and evaluate different types of formulations for spore suspension of Trichoderma sp. in mixtures of oils and nutrients.  This information is really important for the continuation of our studies because it provides an opportunity to include a new technology in the area of biological control application.  For this reason, studies like the one completed at SPCL are of vital importance; I acquired new ideas on how to establish new experiments in the laboratory and the field.

 

 

 

 

Alexis Matute

In conversations with Dr. Bryan Bailey, we were able to define a work plan for short-term training over an eight-week period focusing on the use of macro- and micronutrients.  The emphasis [of the fellowship] was on periodic application of calcium chloride as part of integrated crop management of cocoa trees under controlled conditions (in a greenhouse) that improve the physiological processes of plants thereby creating natural resistance to diseases.

 

 

 

 

James Quiroz

Initially, participating in the Cocoa Borlaug Fellows Program interested me because of its principles and goals such as support for developing countries, and its staff that are involved in different activities to improve living conditions and food security. First, I participated in the WCF Partnership Meeting in Washington, DC, an event that really surpassed my expectations. The meeting covered important topics related to farm level research and the cocoa market. The meeting allowed me to interact with scientists from different regions of the world that are too numerous to name.

 

 Photo: Raquel Gurrero, James Quiroz, and Alexis Matute

Read about the Cocoa Borlaug Fellows Ecuador Program