Patrick Van Gheel, ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Cuba, found at the University of Guantánamo (UG) progress of project that this high center of agro-ecological studies carries out to boost cocoa production in eastern Cuba.
Patrick Van Gheel, ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium in Cuba, found at the University of Guantánamo (UG) progress of project that this high center of agro-ecological studies carries out to boost cocoa production in eastern Cuba.
During the meeting, the PhD. Yurelkis Fernández Maura presented to Van Gheel progress made with research related to improving cocoa production in Baracoa, executed by a value of more than half a million euros.
In her speech, she also stressed that this investigation that lasted five years improved the conditions of the laboratories, which allowed a study of rhizobacteria that stimulate the defense mechanism of the cocoa plant in order to boost high quality production and obtain a chocolate that is positioned in the international market and especially in the country where the product is highly consumed
Maura Fernández showed the distinguished visitor from Belgium new research proposal related to the strengthening agro-ecological system of cocoa production in the mountain area of Baracoa in coordination with the Catholic University of Leuven.
Meanwhile Patrick Van Gheel expressed his confidence in the new project aimed at obtaining a high quality chocolate that can be recognized in the international market and mainly in his country.
"The Belgians consume many chocolate, thus helping to maintain the cultivation of cocoa with projects like this," said Van Gheel who assured to come back to Guantanamo, a province visited by him for the first time, in order to strengthen ties with University of Guantánamo.
After thanking the visit, Alberto Turro Breff, Rector of the UG, told the ambassador that Guantanamo has other natural resources such as coffee, coconut, wood, plaster and others that can be exploited to boost economic development of the territory in a short time.
Turro Breff accompanied the ambassador Patrick Van Gheel on a tour to Regino Eladio Boti headquarters where the industrial area of InternationalGraduate is built that will have the mission to increase the preparation of Guantanamo professionals as well as Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa experts.
Translation: Liubis Balart Martínez