Course:LFS350/Projects/W2017/Lets Pesticides

Project Summary

Purpose

Through a partnership with LET'S, non-profit organization started by students at the Sauder School of Business at UBC, this project is aimed to identify different agroecological approaches and techniques that farmers in developing communities can use to substitute expensive pesticides with cheaper/affordable and more sustainable solutions.

Areas of Focus

• International non-profit organizations
• Agroecological approaches to pest management
• Agricultural issues in developing communities

Skills

• Agroecological knowledge and experiences
• Integrated Pest Management
• Case study design

Location

Since, most of this project is focused around research, there will be very little need for traveling. In case, students require any information about the communities that LET’S is working in - Uganda and Pakistan, we will provide the students with the necessary connections/resources.

Background Information

The Regional Food System Strategy (RFSS) was adopted by Metro Vancouver in 2011, with a vision to create, “a sustainable, resilient and healthy food system that will contribute to the well-being of all residents and the economic prosperity of the region while conserving our ecological legacy.” This food system approach illustrates the multiple ways food reaches our plates and the linkages among agencies, the private sector and communities working on food issues. The RFSS contains five goals and twenty-one strategies (see below) that highlight opportunities for all levels of government, the private sector, and civil society to advance actions that support the vision and public benefits derived from the regional food system. s Canada make a difference in the lives of Veterans and their families, provide essential services within our communities, and Remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Country.

While the broad framework of the RFSS considers the role of stakeholders across the entire food system, the Regional Food System Action Plan (Action Plan) adopts a narrower focus on actions that local governments are planning to undertake in the next 3-5 years that will concretely advance implementation of the RFSS. It also identifies a number of new strategic and collaborative actions that local governments can undertake together to advance efforts toward a resilient and sustainable food system in Metro Vancouver. The Action Plan is set within the context of the dedicated, progressive and innovative work already accomplished or underway by local governments, civil society groups and other food system stakeholders. In addition, this Action Plan is intended as a reference guide for local governments to learn from each others’ respective actions and experiences.

Organization Information

Name

LET'S International Charitable Association

• Website: http://www.lets-ica.com

Mission + Vision

LET’S is a non-profit organization driven by ambitious individuals who understand the importance of connectivity in socio-economic development of impoverished communities. Therefore, the organization has been developing a device called Takhti to create this connectivity infrastructure. LET’S intend to use Takhti for serving educational and socio-economic resources to masses in Uganda and Pakistan in 2017.

All of our projects are focused towards promoting education and socio-economic development around the world. We provide schools in developing communities with educational resources, hospitals with medical resources and the local small producers necessary tools to develop their businesses.

Primary Contact

• Contact Persons: Saadan Sulehri
• Email: saadan.sulehri@lets-ica.com
• Address: 051 2366 Main Mall, Vancouver BC
• Website: www.lets-ica.com
• Best time(s) method(s) to contact: Email

Project Description

This project is aimed to identify different techniques that farmers in developing communities can use to substitute expensive pesticides with cheaper/affordable and more organic solutions.

Goal: The goal of this project is to discover better and affordable substitutes for farming practices in Uganda and Pakistan.

Scope: The resulting solution from this project will equip LET’S with the necessary knowledge/resources to help farmers in developing communities cope with the above mentioned problems. LET’S will then deploy this solution over the wireless network that the organization is currently creating in developing communities, like Uganda and Pakistan, using Takhti. This project fits well in the overall goal of the organization to help developing communities improve their economic conditions by supporting the small local producers.

Skills Preferred

• Organized and able to work independently
• Understanding of sustainable food systems, and role of food in community development processes
• Agroecological knowledge and experiences
• Integrated Pest Management
• Case study design

Skills to Be Developed

Awareness, understanding and experience in...

• International non-profit organizations
• Agroecological approaches to pest management
• Agricultural issues in developing communities

Project Location

Since, most of this project is focused around research, there will be very little need for traveling. In case, students require any information about the communities that LET’S is working in - Uganda and Pakistan, we will provide the students with the necessary connections/resources.

Preferred Days of Week and Hours

Students are welcome to work on their own schedule. LET’S representative will be available during regular business hours both in person (at LET’S office on UBC campus) and over email.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

• None available for this project although students are encouraged to volunteer with the assigned community organization if possible.

Expected Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

• I hope students will learn about the problems farmers face in developing communities, in contrast to the common farming issues in the developed world.
• I think students will come to appreciate how issues issues can sometime have a very simple solution.
• Students will develop an understanding of how cultural differences play a vital role in figuring out a sustainable solution to specific problems, for a remote community.

Organizational Outcomes

• We hope to gain a better understanding of how to help farmers improve their farming practices in Uganda and Pakistan
• We are looking forward to understanding how our technology can be utilized to help farmers in Uganda and Pakistan
• We are looking forward to creating an active culture of research and development in UBC with developing communities in mind.

Students are welcome to arrange further meetings with LET’S in order to obtain more information about the project and the technology LET’S develops – Takhti.