On October 25, 2023, current and aspiring students in the Integrated Concentration in STEM (iCons) Program teamed-up to present innovative solutions addressing the issue of unsustainable chocolate production in Colombia during the annual iCons “Idea Slam.” This initiative was led by Dr. Marianny Yajaira Combariza ’03G and Dr. Cristian Blanco-Tirado ’03G, esteemed professors at Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia, who are also UMass Amherst Chemistry graduate alumni.
Dr. Michael Fox, the Dean of the College of Natural Sciences, opened the Idea Slam with a motivating message for iCons students, “This event is the hallmark of a program that is launching the next innovating leaders in science, technology, and business.” Following his enthusiastic opening remarks, Scott Auerbach, the Mahoney Family Sponsored Executive Director of iCons, extended a warm welcome to the guest speakers and encouraged students to collaboratively brainstorm solutions for the systemic challenges at hand.
Students gained insights into the current nature of chocolate agriculture and production in Colombia, discovering that a staggering 92% of harvested cacao biomass is discarded by farmers as unusable waste. Professors Combariza and Blanco urged students to infuse creativity into their strategies for integrating this substantial amount of cacao biomass into the economy. Such an initiative would not only encourage the comprehensive utilization of the entire cacao fruit but also foster a more diverse economic market. This, in turn, could facilitate the dismantling of existing monopolies, benefiting farmers, and contributing to the well-being of the communities engaged in agricultural labor.
Every student group prepared a one-minute pitch presenting their solution, providing a unique perspective on this complex issue. Noteworthy suggestions included leveraging anaerobic digesters to generate energy from the excess cacao biomass, creating a skincare product that utilizes the wet biomass content, and adopting a multi-crop format where cacao biomass serves as fertilizer for other crops. The diversity and creativity of team-generated ideas were remarkable and in line with the iCons approach.
Guest speakers Combariza and Blanco-Tirado concluded the Idea Slam by expressing gratitude for the insightful contributions of all and provided each attendee with a gift of their 100% cacao chocolate bars from their company, Nextcoa. The Idea Slam effectively fostered creative solutions and offered prospective students a firsthand glimpse into the dynamic and collaborative nature of the UMass iCons Program.
Check out photos (Facebook photo album) from the Idea Slam.
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