U. S. Ambassador to Ecuador, Heather Hodges, visited today with Ecuadorian Stewards selected to participate in the Multinational Exchange for Sustainable Agriculture (MESA).  The Stewards will travel to the U.S. as part of the exchange and training program in sustainable agriculture at the end of March.

MESA has worked in Ecuador since 2003.  Since then, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through the PL-480 Corporation, has sponsored more than 50 Stewards’ training in different areas of agriculture, supporting the program with $460 thousand dollars.

MESA is a sustainable agriculture exchange program.  The organization arranges U.S. internships for students, farmers, and others involved in agricultural and community development, especially those with an interest in organic agriculture and responsible natural resource management.

MESA works with the Ecuadorian non-profit Huayra Causay.  The two organizations aim for stewards to learn about the day-to-day operations of organic vegetable and livestock production, to experience another culture, to gain independence, and to commit to the dissemination of sustainable agriculture practices after returning to Ecuador.

This article was translated from it's original print version by MESA.  You can find the original posted below.