Arhuaco girls and boys learn sustainable production practices with AGROSAVIA in the heart of the Sierra Nevada

• The activity, developed by the Motilonia Research and Technology Transfer Center, promoted hands-on learning about sustainably managing wool sheep and using organic residues.

 

Nabusímake, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. September 8, 2026. September 8, 2026. Fourth- and fifth-grade girls and boys from the Piñumake Rural School, in Nabusímake, an Arhuaco community, participated alongside teachers and community members in a learning and knowledge-exchange session focused on the sustainable management of wool sheep and the use of organic residues.

The activity was carried out by AGROSAVIA’s Motilonia Research and Technology Transfer Center as part of the Territorial Innovation Systems (STI) Project – Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, within the framework of actions aimed at strengthening community capacities and developing sustainable productive alternatives in harmony with the territory and the traditions of the Arhuaco people.

During the session, the students took part in practical, interactive activities on key aspects of sheep management, including dental chronology, weighing and recording production data, nutrition, reproduction, animal health and welfare, and shearing and wool classification processes.

These topics were covered through hands-on activities led by Researcher Clara Rúa, who facilitated learning based on the territory's experiences and specific conditions.

From Waste to Sustainable Use

The session also offered an opportunity to explore alternatives for using the resources available at the school. Guided by Researcher Luis Fernando Gómez, the students learned how to transform sheep manure, organic residues generated at the institution, and plant biomass into compost.

In this way, materials that might normally be considered waste can become an alternative way to support soil improvement and sustainable production.

Beyond being a training session, this gathering became a space for learning by doing, sharing knowledge, and fostering new generations' interest in science, technology, and innovation, while recognizing the value of traditional knowledge and integrating it with new practices to strengthen the territory's productive systems.