Talks begin about Soy Dairy Training Center in Haiti

July 29, 2010

The morning began with a beautiful sunrise. It is warm in Haiti and it is hurricane season, so each day that passes without a major storm is a small blessing. We traveled to the State University of Haiti today to meet with the faculty and staff and see their agriculture and veterinary medicine campus. The University is back in session and students have resumed their studies in the midst of significant damage from the earthquake, that is still very visible. The young adults who attend the University are the key to a promising future in Haiti and having local universities resume classes brings a feeling of stability and routine and a sense of hope.

The University of Illinois and the State University of Haiti have areas in common - - agriculture, food and nutrition. It was a pleasure to work with our colleagues and to learn of the progress underway at the University as well as the exciting plans for further reconstruction and growth.

This may be a possible site for a soy dairy training center. Local groups as well as World Initiative for Soy in Human Health (WISHH) and World Soy Foundation (WSF ), are intereested in creating a soy dairy training center in Haiti. We discussed the necessary electricity an plumbing connections that would be needed for such an endeavor, as well as the needs for a business minded operation with a focus on quality and sustainability.

We remain enthusiastic about the work underway with nutrition in Haiti and are working to help that continue with an even greater impact.

Regards,

Bridget