EARTH Stories
Drones: Efficiency and Innovation for Transforming Food Systems
From piloting a drone for the first time at EARTH to transforming agriculture in El Salvador and Honduras, Orlando Solís (Class of 2018, El Salvador) is leading agricultural modernization with drones, optimizing crops, and reducing costs…
EARTH University and the Oduber Elliott Family Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the Donation of La Flor
EARTH University and the Oduber Elliott family commemorate 20 years since the donation of the La Flor property to the University. This 3,700-acre site in Liberia, Guanacaste, is home to the Campus Daniel Oduber Quirós, named in honor of the former president of Costa Rica. Thanks to the generosity of his family, La Flor has become a hub for agricultural education, sustainability, and innovation…
Three Siblings, One Dream: From the Mountains of Chiapas to the World
Manuel (Class of 2018), Antonio (Class of 2022), and Marcelina Gómez (Class of 2027) are three Indigenous siblings who broke barriers and changed their destinies through education. A coffee brand, a new language, and a dream that once seemed unreachable…
Joy Umubyeyi: A Compassionate and Sensitive Leader
The determination of a Mastercard Foundation Scholar, Joy Umubyeyi (Class of 2028, Rwanda), has made her the first in her family to access higher education. With every class she is taking in her first year at EARTH, she is discovering new ways to improve the lives of farmers in her community…
Bianca Dager: The Power of Curiosity and Consistency
Bianca Dager (Class of 2003, Ecuador) has done it all. She served as Ecuador’s Vice Minister of Environment, co-founded the platform Premios Verdes, launched an environmental consultancy, and created a project that is connecting nature with various sectors, from conservation to private industry and production. Her calling took her by surprise, leading her to believe in the power of agriculture and conservation to transform production systems.
How to Revolutionize Food Production: Melissa Haringwi Moyo is Using Science to Transform Her Community
Melissa Haringwi Moyo (Class of 2025, Eswatini), a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at EARTH, discovered her passion for agriculture after witnessing the lack of technical knowledge among farmers in her region. Today she studies at EARTH not just for herself but for her community. She is developing an innovative project to reuse poultry waste as fertilizer in order to revolutionize food production and prove that, with science and determination, anything is possible…
Strengthening Rural Communities Using Local Knowledge
Juana Nohelia Bonilla (Class of 2004, Honduras) has dedicated her life to strengthening rural communities through local knowledge and sustainability. Her return to Costa Rica, after two decades of impact in the agricultural sector, reaffirms her commitment to inclusive development…
Celeste Bueso: Bringing Her Passion for Entomology to Brazil
In 2024, Celeste Bueso (Class of 2025, Honduras) traveled to Brazil to complete her Internship course at São Paulo State University (UNESP), where she had the opportunity to conduct research, collaborate in teams, and create new connections for her future. Discover how this insect enthusiast experienced this life-changing opportunity…
The Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program Expands its Reach
In 2021, we jointly launched the Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program to accelerate effective transitions beyond university for young leaders focused on agriculture and rural development on the African continent…
Purpose-Driven Leadership: Happiness Maworera and Her Impact on Water Protection
Happiness Maworera (Class of 2024, Zimbabwe), a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at EARTH, led a water conservation project working with ASADAS in rural areas of Costa Rica, strengthening the relationship with the community and protecting water sources…