West Virginia University/ Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro/ Consejo de Ciencia y Tecnología del Estado de Querétaro
Country:
Mexico
Award Date:
2005
Award Amount:
$499,619.00
Cost Share:
$537,867.00
Other Partners:
Cooperative Jesus Maria SPR de RL, Agro Conversion JOSSET, Alimentos Hidropónicos
The goal of the partnership between WVU and UAQ is to increase the productivity and living standards of small-scale farmers in the states of Querétaro and Guanajuato through the development, implementation, and transfer of greenhouse technology including engineering, horticulture and soil sciences appropriate for these rural semiarid regions. Partnership activities will combine expertise in engineering sciences, agricultural sciences, business and extension to provide graduate level training for students, faculty exchange, and training workshops for students, researchers, and small producers on the key issues related to greenhouse technology development and its use. Research on new product markets, techniques for higher productivity and quality of crops, as well as on developing greenhouses without impacting the environment will be conducted. Environmental protection research will be aimed at reducing the use of pesticides, recycling and conserving water, and other environmental mitigation topics to enable environmentally friendly production. The partnership will then help consolidate and create 20 new greenhouses in the regions to improve the competitiveness of rural farmers in the agricultural markets.