Agriculture and the Environment in Colombia
- Accommodations
- Meals
- Excursions & Activities
- Get to Know Your Destination
- Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
- Student Experience
Accommodations
You will be staying at the Alliance’s on-campus housing, sharing a room with two other students. Linens, such as bedding and towels, are provided.
UC Davis may have to change the accommodation location and type. Should this be necessary, we will arrange alternative lodging. Please note that elevators, air conditioners, WiFi and other conveniences may not be available in all locations.
Accommodations for your program may include same-gender or mixed-gender housing and rooms may be shared with one or more students. You may request a roommate, and we will do our best to consider mutual requests when making housing assignments and/or sharing them with our program partners. However, please note that roommate requests cannot be guaranteed, as housing arrangements depend on availability and local accommodations.
Meals
Meals are provided on the Alliance campus Monday through Friday and are included in your program cost. During off-campus excursions, several group meals are scheduled. Additionally, information about convenient weekend ordering options will be shared to support students while on campus.
Excursions & Activities
Agriculture and the Environment in Colombia offers a variety of out-of-class activities designed to deepen your understanding of sustainable agriculture, crop breeding, and food systems. Many of these excursions and opportunities are reserved or facilitated by our on-site partners at the Alliance and Kagumu Adventures. Excursions or activities may include:
- On-campus fields: tour crop breeding programs and the climate action unit at the Alliance to observe real-world applications of agricultural research.
- Smallholder farms: engage with farmers supported by the Latin American Fund for Irrigated Rice (FLAR), learning about eco-efficient approaches to improving rice production systems and the socio-economic realities of smallholder farming.
- Genebank facility, Future Seeds: explore crop biodiversity and its critical roles in global food security, gaining insights into the preservation and utilization of genetic resources.
- Local sugarcane production, factories, and a historical museum: providing a cultural and historical perspective on a key regional industry.
- Explore Cali’s historical downtown, their outdoor market, and take a salsa Caleña class.
- Attend the Petronio Álvarez Pacific Music Festival in Cali focusing on Afro-Colombian and Pacific indigenous culture with music, dance, and food.
- Hike through rivers and waterfalls of the Farallones de Cali National Park with a professional guide.
- Take a hike and tour at Nirvana Natural Reserve, a high-biodiversity eco-destination featuring sub-Andean forests, hiking trails leading to scenic mountain viewpoints, various species of fauna and flora and a butterfly garden.
- Visit Cenicafe, the scientific research center of the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation (FNC). This research center is not open to the public so you'll get a specialized tour and visit to learn about how they help boost the sustainability and productivity of Colombian coffee.
- Hike at Kasaguadua, a natural reserve and sustainable ecolodge just outside of Salento. Take a tour with a founder of the natural reserve and learn about his life's work and passion for sustainability.
- Visit a traditional, sustainable coffee farm in the coffee region of Colombia. Learn the step-by-step process of coffee production, from bean to brew and enjoy a guided coffee tasting.
- Visit Cocora Valley, home to the tallest palms in the world! Hike the Cocora valley loop with farms, cloud forests, steep ascents, iconic wax palms and over rivers with swinging bridges.
Get to Know Your Destination
From Lonely Plant:
Cali is a city with a real zest for life that draws you in and stays with you long after you leave town. Beyond a handful of churches and museums, Cali is light on sights—but the city's main attraction is its beguiling, electrifying atmosphere. If you make the effort you will find great nightlife, good restaurants and plenty to do, especially in the evening, when a cool mountain breeze dissipates the heat of the day.
About the Alliance
The Alliance is one of the research centers of CGIAR, leading global research in crop breeding, climate action, and food system transformation. With over 50 years of history, the Alliance offers an excellent academic and professional environment, hosting international scientists and collaborating across Latin America and the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa. The Alliance’s gene bank, Future Seeds, serves as a global innovation hub for the conservation and use of crop diversity, supporting sustainable agriculture.
Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
Participation in this UC Davis Study Abroad program requires travel to and extended living in a foreign location(s) abroad. UC Davis Study Abroad endeavors to reduce and mitigate risk wherever possible. However, the environments and risks associated with living in these locations are substantially different than those found during a regular course of study at UC Davis. All participants must download and review the following information prior to departure. Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator.
Student Experiences
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