Growing up on a dairy and coffee farm, Karla Mena Soto (Class of 2000, Costa Rica) never imagined the extent of the impact that her studies and experience at EARTH would have on her country’s agricultural sector. Karla had always appreciated nature, and she knew from a young age that she wanted to study agriculture. When she visited EARTH’s Campus with her father, she knew that this was the place she wanted to be: “I wanted to study somewhere that lives and breathes nature, where agriculture is a way of life.”
While at EARTH, Karla got the chance to do just that. From early mornings in the fields to long afternoons in the labs, EARTH’s approach to learning gave Karla an intimate understanding of agriculture and allowed her to envision how she could apply her studies in the future. In addition to forming the skills that are essential to be an agronomist, Karla saw how EARTH instills values in its students that aren’t learned in traditional classroom settings. “The education is great, and the technical background is excellent, but it’s the values that are really important,” reflects Karla.
She became aware of three key characteristics of EARTH’s program that she feels support graduates the most when carrying out any job: empathy, commitment, and responsibility. In learning to live these values, Karla also learned the importance of understanding people, especially the producers with whom she would eventually work, to be able to create real impact: “I studied at EARTH to serve and to help the agricultural sector and the farmers who face major challenges.”
Several years after leaving EARTH, Karla started working for the Ministry of Agriculture of Costa Rica in Agricultural Extension services. Agricultural extension consists of knowledge sharing and educating producers, and Karla places productivity and sustainability at the heart of her approach to extension. After five years of working with the Ministry, Karla became the first female National Director of Agricultural Extension. In her tenure as Director, Karla oversaw a team of over 500 employees distributed among 90 offices. She credits the impact she and her team have made in the lives of producers and farmers to their collective belief that creating a more sustainable agriculture sector is possible without losing the essence of the industry.
Karla approaches her work with the mindset instilled in her at EARTH: empathy is key to educating others. Throughout Karla’s term as Director, more than 180 new professionals began working in agricultural extension, a growth she views as valuable for the country, and she hopes to see continue growing. Karla also serves as Costa Rica’s Climate Change Negotiator before the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP). She views both Costa Rica and EARTH as well-positioned to enact sustainable change in agriculture through technological innovation, partnerships, and knowledge sharing. Most of all she feels “Leadership is not measured by a title, but rather by the impact that we generate in the lives of other people.”
Karla’s work is guided by Costa Rica’s commitment to incorporate climate mitigation and adaptation in the agricultural sector. Focusing on implementing climate-friendly practices has led to significant improvements in the livelihoods of producers with whom Karla has worked. For example, Karla worked with a dairy farmer to utilize a natural subproduct from cows to fertilize his farm. This change not only improved the sustainability of the farm, but also increased the farmer’s production and savings. In implementing sustainable practices for efficient resource use, the farmer went from producing 11 to 23 liters of milk daily per animal and increased his income significantly in the process. By accompanying the producer to implement efficient management solutions, Karla was able to support him in producing more, making a better product, and working more sustainably.
“The education we received at EARTH is the perfect ally to be able to bring to light solutions in the face of climate agendas,” says Karla, and the holistic education she received at EARTH has enabled her to work beyond traditional boundaries and bring stakeholders together to create beneficial solutions for agricultural producers and the planet.
