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Colombian Exchange Students Visit ESF to Explore Sustainable Agriculture and Energy
SYRACUSE, N.Y.– July 10, 2025 — Students at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) and Universidad Autónoma de Occidente (UAO) in Cali, Colombia spent the spring semester participating in a joint online course focused on renewable energy and agroecology.
The course, Communicating Rural Transitions in the Americas, co-taught by Dr. Theresa Selfa and Dr. Renata Moreno from UAO, explored how renewable energy can help small farmers be more environmentally and economically sustainable. Originally designed as a two-way exchange, the program planned for ESF students and faculty to travel to Colombia and for UAO counterparts to visit ESF. However, after U.S. Department of State funding cuts canceled the ESF trip, Selfa and her former Ph.D. student, Dr. Renata Moreno, concentrated efforts on hosting the UAO delegation.
In June, six students and three faculty members from UAO visited Syracuse. The group included faculty and students from UAO’s Social Communications and Engineering programs, offering interdisciplinary perspectives on equitable rural transitions.
During their Central New York stay, the visitors toured local farms, gathered video footage, and conducted interviews on sustainable agriculture and energy practices. They then used ESF’s Digital Storytelling Studio to produce bilingual multimedia stories that communicate the challenges and solutions of just energy transitions.
"This visit reinforces the strength of our exchange partnership with UAO," said Selfa. “Even though our students couldn’t travel this spring, the collaboration continued to thrive, both virtually and now in person.”
Students from both institutions had already collaborated on video documentaries highlighting sustainable farming practices and energy innovations in rural communities. Projects such as “Living from What the Earth Gives” and “Solar Farmers” showcase real-life transitions toward renewable energy and agroecological farming in Colombia and New York.
Faculty from both institutions hope the visit will deepen student engagement and lay the groundwork for future exchanges. In September, ESF students and faculty plan a research-focused trip to Colombia to visit an agroecological farm and explore renewable energy solutions for sustainable agriculture.
“This experience has been particularly significant for our students, as it has strengthened their understanding of their crucial role in communicating innovative and sustainable solutions for rural communities,” said Professor Alejandro de los Ríos Gálvez, Universidad Autónoma de Occidente – Cali. “The knowledge and inspiration they gained about renewable energy applications and community impact strategies will undoubtedly motivate them to continue advancing projects that showcase renewable energy’s impact on small farm viability.”
“This kind of partnership doesn’t just broaden academic horizons,” Selfa said. “It creates lasting networks that empower students to tell important environmental stories across the Americas.”
You can watch the student-produced films here:
- Living from what the earth gives
- Planting the Future
- Granja Mama Lulu
- Solar Farmers
- Sustainable Farming
- Critz Farm
About SUNY ESF
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is dedicated to the study of the environment, developing renewable technologies, and building a sustainable and resilient future through design, policy, and management of the environment and natural resources. Members of the College community share a passion for protecting the health of the planet and a deep commitment to the rigorous application of science to improve the way humans interact with the world. The College offers academic programs ranging from the associate of applied science to the Doctor of Philosophy. ESF students live, study and do research on the main campus in Syracuse, N.Y., and on 25,000 acres of field stations in a variety of ecosystems across the state.