¡Hola! My name is Ryan Weinberger, and I’m an incoming sophomore in the College of Business Administration. Currently, I’m pursuing a double major in Finance and Accounting, with a minor in Economics and a Certificate in Sustainability through the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences. I chose Costa Rica for my Plus3 location for two different reasons. After participating in the honors Ireland program last summer, I wanted a completely different experience in a country that did not have English as a primary language. Furthermore, in a past Environmental Science class I learned a little about the supply chain process for fresh produce in the United States, and Plus3 Costa Rica offered a perfect opportunity to witness the process firsthand.

Costa Rica is widely regarded as one of the most forward-thinking countries in terms of sustainability. While countries are now instilling plans to preserve our deteriorating planet, Costa Rica has been miles ahead in terms of it’s environmental-saving initiatives.  The Costa Ricans have focused their initiatives towards some of their most profitable industries: tourism and coffee. Examples include designing and building more eco-friendly accommodations known as Ecolodges and developing more sustainable coffee farming practices, shown by the coffee farm Café de Monteverde.

Ecolodges are houses that have environmentally-forward uses implemented into their design and furnishing, such as using renewable energy (mainly solar power), energy efficient lighting, employing water-conservation methods both inside and outside the location, and organic linens. The idea behind Ecolodges have been extended into larger accommodations, such as hotels and even resorts, where a focus on community involvement is included in the operations of such places.

Café de Monteverde combines areas of coffee production with sustainable practices to both reduce and recycle the byproducts of making coffee. Some practices include composting, solar energy, and biodigesters to convert animal waste to usable energy. Furthermore, half of the land they own is preserved as primary and secondary forest. This preservation promotes biodiversity and keeps a balance between production and conservation.

Learning more about Costa Rica’s sustainability projects has made me more excited to visit the country. I’m looking forward to diving into the details about the production of coffee and bananas, brushing up on my Spanish and becoming closer with my peers both in the business school and the school of engineering on this trip in the next two weeks. ¡Vámonos!