Cobre Panamá has donated a 230m2 greenhouse, along with a supply storage facility for inputs, materials, and tools, a irrigation system, and cucumber seeds to the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the Regional University Center of Coclé, belonging to the University of Panama. This donation is part of Cobre Panamá’s efforts to promote sustainable and environmentally friendly agricultural practices in the communities near the mine.
The Director of the University Center of Coclé, Fulgencio Álvarez, expressed gratitude to the mining company for this contribution, which will strengthen the Agroforestry Engineering career. The greenhouse will allow students to familiarize themselves with this technology, which has become increasingly popular worldwide as it enables food production in limited spaces in a more environmentally friendly manner.
Approximately 100 students from the Agricultural Sciences and Forest Engineering careers will have the valuable opportunity to acquire knowledge about closed-space farming, enabling farmers to create a controlled microclimate. Through temperature, environmental factors, and humidity control, these spaces will allow out-of-season production, reduce water consumption through an automated irrigation system, and minimize the use of phytotoxic products. This will ensure the production of healthier fruits and vegetables for everyone.
Miguel Jaén, Manager of Community Affairs at the mining company, encouraged students at the Regional Center to continue studying and delve into these modern agricultural techniques.
“At Cobre Panamá, we have committed to working on the complete educational cycle of the people in our neighboring communities for the past 12 years. Through various programs, we provide support from early childhood to university. For example, we have the Comprehensive Schools program that promotes sustainable production to ensure food supply in 70 educational centers, as well as scholarships for higher education, motivating young people to pursue university studies,” said the Manager of Community Affairs.
This initiative also supports the development and continuous innovation of the Technical Outreach Program for Producers in Coclé, led by the Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA).
In addition to donating the greenhouse, Cobre Panamá provided a supply storage facility with inputs, materials, and tools, an irrigation system, and cucumber seeds, which will be used to kickstart activities in this greenhouse, thereby promoting teaching and learning in this area. COBRE PANAMA, MINERIA COBRE; FIRST QUANTUM COBRE PANAMA, MINERIA COBRE; FIRST QUANTUM COBRE PANAMA, MINERIA COBRE; FIRST QUANTUM
