Program Overview
The Alpha Zeta Partners Brazil Study Abroad Program is a six week program located in Piracicaba, Brazil. While in country, we studied three four-credit courses at the University of São Paulo’s Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (ESALQ). Included in the program were Agricultural Economics (AEDECON 5797): Brazil’s Agricultural and Natural Resources Economy; International Studies (FAES 5797): Brazilian History, Culture, Government and Language; and Rural Sociology (RURLSOC 5797): Brazilian Rural Development and Natural Resource Management. ESALQ is a partner institution with The Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.
Pre-Departure Reflection
Today, college is more competitive than ever before. With this, receiving a particular job in your specific industry is very important with what experiences you’ve had and the networking capabilities you have gained. My friends have similar majors, in similar clubs, and we have similar personalities. Who does the employer choose? Our internships, student employment and studying abroad will set each other apart from one an other.
Studying abroad says to an employer that their candidate was willing to go out of their comfort zone. In my situation I will travel to a different country, with a foreign school and a whole new language. Many situations will happen that will define me as a person, the ability to work in a team and my dedication to furthering my education. One of my favorite quotes from a colleague was “My favorite part of the trip wasn’t what I learned academically, but it was what I discovered about myself.” Hours of studying, lectures and projects can teach me tangible things about my major but it’s the experiences that will allow me to grow as a person to continue the pursuit in my career.
AZP offers rigorous leadership trainings focusing on scholarship, leadership, character and a spirit of fellowship among all members. My agribusiness major strives to link the producers to the consumers. The growing population and the industrialization, farmers have to figure out how to produce more food with less land. Brazil in Spring 2017 will teach me their sustainability techniques as I gain a more open mind beyond the United States economy. Returning home, I will gain a new understanding of the world market and how agriculture affects every market in every country as we continue to feed the world.
While Abroad Reflection
February 8, 2017
Today I gained a new respect for their government and research facilities. Although we tend to believe that Brazil is corrupt and doesn’t really benefit anyone, some of the advancements made in agriculture prove otherwise. We toured Embrapa which allows agriculture to make large gains. This company showed the power of people with a mission coming together to accomplish things. In the past 3 decades production has increased 6 times. Brazil has always been considered a lower class than America but with the power of their sustainability, production and correct political leaders they can become a greater world power.
Today,2.87 billion tons of soybean production with 70% of all production coming from 3 countries. Brazil is also the 2nd largest exporter of food. In the 1970s soybean were the driving force of grain, meat etc. We saw an economic equation that could be applied to most innovative advances. Subtract the area while increasing production to remain sustainable.
Brazil is sitting pretty for future agronomist and as an economy as a whole. There is plenty of land available with a favorable climate and the option to irrigate. The global population is going to increase in longevity, consumption population and economy. PEOPLE NEED FOOD.
We also talked about how politics don’t play a huge role in this science because opinions can’t change the facts. Results are shown and actions are acted upon. In these situations, the university’s hold the power because they have the best intentions of the greater good. Whereas sales man, use the idea of the consumer to give them false information to sell more product. Soybeans are originally from China which have a colder temperature. Brazil is hot and wet which made it harder for the beans to adapt. When Brazil finally learned to compete they became dominant in the industry.
We then visited Ipara which is an agricultural research institute of parana state. This facility was created for New cultivars adapted to parana conditions. They offered research in Beans coffee wheat corn cotton citrus Apple oats. They had 14 research programs and over 250 research projects. Brazil used to be dominated by small farms with the traditional system. Big farmers came around 30 years ago and left the competition in the past. Brazil’s Economy depends on agriculture. The man that walked us around today focused on machinery for conservation agriculture. Brazil struggled with herbicides and machinery. Brazil has over 30 million hectors of no till farming. We went through some of the fields to apply some of the things we had learned. We saw a rubber production with the trees.
After that visit we headed for Piriciba. Everyone was stressed about the group projects but this it was similar to how real life with be. Every job isn’t going to give you every piece of information to put in something, but they expect you to plan accordingly. With careers, for projects, meetings, etc cannot be set aside because your family is busy. In school group projects are easier because there is structure. 
After Return Reflection
Brazil enhanced my learning as a professional and global leader as I saw the importance of having a global mindset. This passion developed my love for studying the economy beyond America and allowed me to plan my next trip to the Czech Republic.
The richness of Czech Republic is rooted in agriculture and natural resources. In my month in Czech, I will be challenged to gain a new perspective with the unique history and todays markets. I will gain knowledge in agricultural policies and have the opportunity to study in a foreign university. As an international student I will be able to gain real world experience with learning in a new or challenging environment. This opportunity will help me grow as a leader in y future career because I will have to leave my comfort zone to adapt to my surroundings.
Culture is the arts and manifestations of human intellectual achievements regarded collectively. Growing up this can set the tone for why and how we operate. These new experiences and new ideas collectively will allow me to form my own and define me as a person. The new environment, new cuisines, new languages and new societal norms lead to adaptability to create a stronger me. The awkward and uncomfortable encounters can create lasting and meaningful relationships. Being adaptable leads to a more open mind to stressful situations and the ability to find my whole potential. There is beauty in the art of conversation. In a new culture, I will be able to see strengths and weaknesses of situations to tell my story and learn about others. I will learn to communicate their “language” without actually speaking verbatim. New cultures can give me a deeper understanding of love and how people interact with each other. My normal ways of showing my love and appreciation can differ from others and I can gain a deeper understanding with how people value the world around them. New cultures also can allow me to see the beauty of God’s creations and how people use their resources. I will experience new cities, new infrastructures, new landscapes and new ecosystems. The style in which people live their lives and use their land can give me a more holistic view with the world around me. At the end of the day, each person and culture I encounter present me with the opportunity to take a positive attribute from that experience and allow it to better me for tomorrow.