When graduate Shamir Carrillo (Class of 2015, Belize) reflects on his time studying Agricultural Sciences at EARTH University, he quickly draws connections to what he learned during those four years. A decade later, he reflects on how that experience informs his current work. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Alumni has a low-key manner and a ready smile as he describes how in every role since graduating, he has remained committed to the values and sustainable practices he learned at the University. A decade after graduating, he still feels the impact of his time at EARTH in his daily work.
Shamir’s career path has taken him across many sectors and industries in his home country of Belize, demonstrating the adaptability of EARTH graduates in their careers and the institution’s strong emphasis on learning-by-doing across various fields. After graduating, Shamir worked as an extension officer in the sugarcane industry, gaining valuable knowledge in a sector crucial to Belize’s economy. After a few years in research and development, he joined Valley of Peace Farms, a large 4,000-acre property that serves as one of his country’s largest mechanized grain and sugarcane farms, using advanced techniques to produce high quality crops. There he oversaw more than 3,000 acres of sugarcane and was responsible for its overall production from planting to harvest. Shamir then joined Farm Four Ltd., where he oversaw field and packing activities, land preparation, irrigation, and harvesting. He also contributed to evaluating the success of ongoing projects and participated in both internal and external audits. During that time, he earned a Master’s degree in Food Safety and Project Management from the University for International Cooperation in Costa Rica.
“I went into my work with experience in bananas and other crops from my classes. It was really enlightening to see that having several years of both theory and practice at EARTH made me feel knowledgeable about many technical aspects and practices of the farm, from land preparation and harvest to preparing for the export market. I felt like this in every job I’ve been involved with in my career.”
More recently, Shamir began working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise in Belize, where he serves as the Station Manager of Central Farm Station, a research and innovation centre focused on increasing rural prosperity by strengthening human capacity, supporting producers’ livelihoods, enhancing food security, and advancing agricultural technologies through applied and adaptive research. Shamir oversees research and development activities focused on food security, while advancing the centre’s vision and mission. Working on topics so fundamental to the future of food security in his country, Shamir understands that today’s cutting-edge concepts in agriculture, including climate change, food security, and sustainability—are subjects that professors at EARTH have been teaching and discussing for years.
“EARTH it has been one step ahead of most institutions. As agents of change, we have always valued sustainable agriculture, those are the main objectives the professors put into our minds. The whole idea of conserving the environment and finding solutions and not just signaling the problems, those were key concepts in our courses. I remember regenerative agriculture was something we talked about in 2015, and now it’s become something more well known.”
Much time has passed since Shamir first learned about the possibility of earning a degree in Agricultural Sciences. Now, as a mid-career professional, he looks back on his time in Costa Rica with fondness, gratitude, and a deep sense of nostalgia. “EARTH was just a boost in my life, in my way of thinking—promoting the environment, climate change, and ideas like sustainable cattle grazing. Before I went to EARTH I had minimal idea of these concepts. It really changed my perspective. And to get to work on these things in my home, and to see what EARTH gave to me I feel like I’m ahead of others in terms of perspectives. EARTH made a big impact on my life.”