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A scientist in Cuba is raising silkworms native to Asia in hopes the creatures will produce local, high quality silk for clothing.
古巴的一位科学家正在饲养原产于亚洲的蚕，希望这些生物能生产高质量丝绸，造福当地服装业。
Dayron Martin is a biochemist who lives in western Cuba.
代龙-马丁是一位生活在古巴西部的生物化学家。
He carries out experiments at the Indio Hatuey Experimental Station.
他在因迪奥哈图伊实验站进行实验。
The research center was established in 1962 in an effort to improve agriculture production methods in the Caribbean nation.
该研究中心成立于1962年，旨在改善这个加勒比国家的农业生产方法。
A reporter from Reuters news agency recently visited Martin’s laboratory.
路透社的一名记者最近参观了马丁的实验室。
As he looked over a table of many silkworms, he explained that he oversees the whole lab operation from start to finish.
他看着一桌子的许多蚕，解释说他从头到尾监督整个实验室的运作。
This includes raising the silkworms, also known as caterpillars, producing their food and harvesting their silk.
这包括饲养蚕，也被称为毛毛虫，生产它们的食物和收获它们的丝。
As part of his work, Martin heads the ArteSeda project.
作为他工作的一部分，马丁领导了ArteSeda项目。
He told Reuters the project has progressed well so far.
他告诉路透社，到目前为止该项目进展顺利。
The goal is for Martin to harvest high-quality white fibers that can be used by the local population to make clothing and possibly other products.
马丁的目标是收获高质量的白色纤维，供当地居民用来制作衣服和其他产品。
Martin described his work as a Chinese "ancestral process” that has been practiced for more than 5,000 years. He said it was only recently brought to Cuba.
马丁将他的工作描述为中国的“祖传工艺”，这种工艺已经有5000多年的历史。他说，这种工艺是最近才被带到古巴的。
Martin said he does not have to go far to get materials for the caterpillars’ food – he mainly uses dark green mulberry leaves from plants growing outside his lab.
马丁说，他不需要走很远的路就能获得毛毛虫的食物材料--他主要使用实验室外生长的深绿色桑叶。
"(The worms) need very specific conditions," he added.
他补充道：“（这些虫子）需要非常特定的条件。”
The project began with financial support from the European Union and the Cuban government.
该项目一开始就得到了欧洲联盟和古巴政府的财政支持。
It more recently also received money from the French government.
它最近还收到了来自法国政府的资金。
The effort aims to teach artisans the process so they can learn to raise worms on their own. Cuba was chosen because of its climate.
该项目旨在向工匠传授这个过程，以便他们能够学会自己养蚕。选择古巴是因为它的气候。
The country has warm temperatures and a lot of wind.
这个国家气候温暖且多风。
In addition, its growing season lasts the full year.
此外，该国的生长季节持续一整年。
Silkworms are the young form of a kind of moth native to Asia.
蚕是一种原产于亚洲的蛾的幼虫形态。
The caterpillars produce a cocoon of silk fiber that has long been used to manufacture many kinds of products.
它们会产生一种由丝纤维组成的茧，这种茧长期以来一直被用于制造多种产品。
The artisans can use silk to create products at home to sell to local people and visitors, said Dalgi Chaviano.
达尔吉·查维亚诺称，工匠们可以在家里用丝绸制作产品，卖给当地人和游客。
She owns a small shop in Havana that produces beauty products, fabrics and other materials.
她在哈瓦那拥有一家小店，生产美容产品、织物和其他材料。
Chaviano told Reuters she recently got approval from the local government to raise mulberry trees and silkworms in Havana.
查维亚诺告诉路透社，她最近获得了当地政府的批准，在哈瓦那种植桑树和养蚕。
This will permit her to produce her own material for products.
这将使她能够生产自己的产品材料。
"Every day I discover something new to do with the silk," Chaviano said.
“每天我都会发现一些关于丝绸的新用途，”查维亚诺说。
I’m Bryan Lynn
我是布莱恩·林恩。
