• Provide early-to-midcareer agricultural research scientists, faculty, and policymakers with individual training opportunities in resilient agricultural research
• Provide practical experience and exposure to new perspectives and/or technologies that can be applied in their home institutions
• Foster increased collaboration and networking to improve agricultural productivity and trade
• Facilitate the transfer of new scientific and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices
• Address obstacles to the adoption of technology such as ineffectual policies and regulations

Targeted Research Areas: 

1. Developing Tools for Greenhouse Gas and Carbon Sequestration Assessments
   •  Develop easily used methods for measuring or estimating greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural settings
   • Develop easily used methods for measuring or estimating carbon sequestration in agricultural soils
   • Develop and field test user-friendly software for quantifying and reporting emissions
2. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity in Crop Production Systems
   •  Identify agricultural management strategies leading to reduced net greenhouse gas emissions per unit of commodity produced in agronomic (including rice), horticultural, or agro-forestry crop systems
   • Develop models for application of experimental data in decision support tools for different crop or agro-forestry systems in different countries
3. Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Intensity in Livestock Production Systems
   •  Identify agricultural management strategies leading to reduced net greenhouse gas emissions per unit of commodity produced in grazing or confined animal production systems
   • Develop models for application of experimental data in decision support tools for livestock production systems in different countries
4. Developing Databases and Strategies for Synthesis, Integration and Decision Support to Manage Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Systems
   •  Develop databases assembled from different research teams working on identifying methods to reduce agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration
   • Develop process models as a foundation for projecting emissions and sequestration in different agricultural systems and for decision support tools

ELIGIBILITY

To be considered for the Borlaug Fellowship Program, candidates must:

• Be citizens of an eligible country
• Be fluent in English
• Have completed a Master’s or higher degree
• Be in the early or middle stage of their career, with at least two (but not more than 10) years of practical experience
• Be employed by a university, government agency or research entity in their home country
• Demonstrate their intention to continue working in their home country after completing the fellowship
• Eligible Countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ghana, Honduras, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

USDA selects candidates based on their academic and professional research interests and achievements, level of scientific competence, aptitude for scientific research, leadership potential, likelihood of bringing back new ideas to their home institution, and flexibility and aptitude for success in a cross-cultural environment. Consideration is also given to the relevance of the applicant’s research area to the research topics highlighted in the application announcement and to global food security and trade.