Connecting Idaho To Spain’s Agriculture

A University of Idaho student says a study abroad experience in Spain is giving her new ideas she hopes to bring back to agriculture in the Northwest.  Senior Rachel Wandell traveled to Spain as part of the university’s Global Agricultural and Life Sciences Systems course.  She toured farms, producers and centuries-old community markets, learning how local food systems and agricultural policies support farmers. 

“There was actually a mandate passed through the Spanish government many, many years ago that kind of ordered the market to be every Wednesday,” Wandell said. “That way consumers could depend on it, and the people in the market would constantly be getting business.”

Wandell added seeing Spain’s grape grafting techniques and meeting with producers broadened her understanding of agriculture beyond the classroom. 

“Grafting is not something that I’ve been exposed to in my U.S. experiences,” Wandell said.

She says those lessons could prove valuable in a future career with Extension, helping producers adopt new practices and better understand agricultural policy.

“Traveling abroad really gave me a full scope on where other countries may be coming from in terms of policy work as well as things that I can incorporate if I were to have a future Extension career, such as grafting.” she said

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-9791, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com