They started off by giving some basic information regarding the science of climate change, which I think this was very important. Sometimes as scientists we assume that everyone understands how climate change works and we go straight into talking about the expected changes in the climate without even explaining why these changes are occurring. Opening the symposium with such a conversation was definitely a great way to have everyone on the same page.

Other topics that were covered included: common pests, soil health, and carbon sequestration. The event included a talk from Jorge Morales, our Library’s former librarian who became an actual cocoa farmer. His chocolate has been awarded in international competitions and therefore he has lots of knowledge to share. To me, given that this was a peer-to-peer talk, I would say that it was one of the most significant. Other farmers were very eager to learn about how Jorge manages his farm, which seeds he uses, and they even asked for tips to new farmers. It was very perceptible that they admired Jorge for his great accomplishments and Jorge showed himself very open to help other farmers grow. It was honestly something very beautiful to watch. At the end of his talk, we were delighted with a chocolate tasting experience, and I must say that he deserved the award. I have never in my life tasted such a delightful chocolate, it was full of other fruity flavors which made every bite a different experience.

To me, this symposium was very uplifting. Seeing farmers and scientists come together to have interesting and important conversations was amazing. This experience reminded me of how meaningful and rich dialogues can be when we bring people from different sectors together. I am very proud of the work that not only our colleagues from the Hub are doing, but also of everyone who is doing their part to support our island’s agri-food system.