Costa Rica’s focus on sustainability makes me think of the country in a really productive and efficient way. It stands out to me because they actually act on it in real life, as it is something that is built into how the country works. I read that Costa Rica has been able to run on almost all renewable energy for long periods of time, using water, wind, and heat from the earth, which is very different from the United States. To add, more than 25 percent of their land is protected as national parks or reserves. This clearly shows that they care about protecting nature and not just using it.
When I looked more into it, I noticed that a lot of their efforts relate to agriculture, especially coffee and bananas. Coffee is one of their biggest exports, so it was exciting to see that they are trying to make the process more environmentally friendly. Programs like Coffee NAMA focus on lowering pollution during the growing and production process. They also reuse waste from coffee and pineapples to create energy, which I thought was really smart. Instead of throwing things away, they find a way to use them again. Banana farming is making progress as it is also moving in a safer direction. Even though it can be harmful to the environment, some farms are trying to use fewer chemicals and take better care of the land. Overall, Costa Rica is not removing these industries, but is trying to improve and make them better.
Looking at our itinerary makes me even more excited to be going because we are actually able to see these things in person. I am really looking forward to visiting the Doka Coffee Estate and doing the Café Britt tour. I love coffee, and I literally get it all the time with my friends, so this is probably one of the things I am most excited for. It will be cool to see where coffee actually comes from and how it is made, not just buying it every day. Additionally, visiting the cloud forest and going to the Strawberry Farm Tour sounds really cool. Staying with host families and visiting local farms and businesses will make the whole experience feel more real and help me understand their way of life better. I’m can’t wait to go, have a good time, and actually learn something.
