Printable document

The Borlaug Fellowship Program promotes food security and economic growth in Africa by training scientists in the latest developments in agricultural research and policy.  Biotechnology, the Africa Cocoa Initiative, and African Organic Certification are at the forefront of USDA’s assistance to the region.

Biotechnology

African policymakers are increasingly recognizing that modern biotechnology has the potential to substantially increase the productivity and competitiveness of their agricultural sectors. Unfortunately, many African countries have limited scientific capacity that would enable their farmers to benefit from advances in agricultural biotechnology.  The Borlaug Fellowship Program partners with land grant colleges and tribal colleges to assist with strengthening productivity and competitiveness of African agricultural sectors by 1) helping scientists produce information that is scientifically accurate and appropriately designed for decision-makers and the general public 2) facilitating biotechnology delivery pathways to African farmers. 

Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS)

Under the USAID’s African Global Competitiveness Initiative, the Borlaug Fellows Program has created fellowship opportunities in plant and animal health and food safety systems. Special emphasis has also been placed on harmonizing SPS regulations with international standards and increasing export opportunities for plant, animal and processed food products.  The SPS program addresses key policy objectives, including assisting with economic diversification, supporting increased export of agricultural products, and taking advantage of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act preferences for agricultural exports.  

African Organic Certification

The global demand for organic commodities continues to grow at an exponential rate, and African producers are in a position to help meet the consumer demand while driving economic growth in African communities.  In support of the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Borlaug African Organic Certification program is dedicated to increasing AGOA countries’ participation in this sector by training fellows in production research, certification guidelines, policy development, and farmer extension services.

African Cocoa Initiative

With nearly 70% of the world’s cocoa supply grown in western and central Africa, a sustainable cocoa industry is essential to the livelihoods of approximately two million rural African families. To support this sector, the Borlaug Fellowship Program’s African Cocoa Initiative offers training and collaborative research opportunities in policy-making to combat cocoa pests and diseases and training to improve cocoa production and market access. In order to produce sustainable enhancements in the African cocoa sector, USDA has partnered with land grant universities and World Cocoa Foundation to provide scientists with results-oriented fellowships. 

The Middle East

The Borlaug Fellowship Program has demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening agricultural trade with the Middle East through continued commitment to reconstruction efforts and support of U.S. - Middle Eastern free trade agreements. 

Iraq

One component of USDA’s reconstruction efforts in Iraq is technical and scientific exchanges in water management through the Borlaug Fellowship Program.  Through partnerships with Texas A&M University, University of Florida, Iowa State University, University of Nebraska, University of Minnesota, and Clemson University, more than 25 Iraqi agricultural scientists have been trained in a variety of topics since 2007.  Research areas included: various water resources topics including irrigation and drainage engineering in arid regions, fertigation techniques, soil management, drought management, geographic information systems, and seed improvement and variety management. The scopes of the training activities varied from laboratory analysis and analytical methods to field studies and techniques.

Oman & Bahrain

Fellows from Oman completed an integrated food safety and quality management fellowship with the University of Nebraska utilizing a “farm to fork” approach involving producers, processors, handlers, retailers, inspection agencies, and consumers. In Bahrain, the USDA worked to address sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) obstacles to trade through training in epidemiology of disease of sheep and goats, animal identification, and biosecurity.