Borlaug Fellowship Program

The Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service’s Office of Capacity Building and Development-Trade and Scientific Exchanges Division, promotes food security and economic growth by providing training and collaborative research opportunities to Fellows from developing and middle-income countries. Each Fellow works one-on-one with a mentor at a U.S. university, research center, or government agency, usually for 8-12 weeks. The U.S. mentor will later visit the Fellow’s home institution to continue collaboration. Fellows may also attend professional conferences and events within their field, such as the annual World Food Prize Symposium. Budgets for the U.S. mentor are typically in the range of $40,000-$50,000.

Since the program’s inception in 2004, approximately 800 Fellows from 64 countries have participated in research and training focused on a wide array of agriculture-related topics, including agronomy, veterinary science, nutrition, food safety, sanitary and phytosanitary issues, natural resource management, agricultural biotechnology, agricultural economics, and agricultural policy. By improving participants’ understanding of agricultural science, the program helps foster science-based trade policies that improve international market access for U.S. agricultural products.

Impact

Washington State University researchers have served as mentors for numerous Borlaug Fellows, leveraging the program for collaborative international research and diversifying the research findings and output of the university.

Proposal and implementation support options for Borlaug Fellowships

Option 1: Global Partnerships and Research Services assists WSU faculty with proposal writing and general development, while our campus partners retain 100% of the funds and perform 100% of the implementation. Responsibilities include arranging all transportation and housing, including a private bedroom with access to a laundry room and kitchen; supplying basic household necessities such as plates, utensils, sheets, towels, etc.; paying meal and living allowances; purchasing health insurance for the Fellow; and completing semi-annual and final reports.

Option 2: Global Partnerships and Research Services develops a split budget with our campus partners. Salaries and support for the technical component of the Fellowship go to the partner while all resources for logistics and salary for a coordinator go to GPRS. Global Partnerships and Research Services acts as the primary point of contact and is responsible for all reporting to USDA. This arrangement places a portion of the fiscal resources with GPRS, but all logistics are managed so that faculty are free to focus on the content of the exchange. GPRS has significant experience with Borlaug Fellowships and similar study tours and is well positioned to support interested faculty.

Proposal tips

1. Borlaug Fellowships are intended to enhance international trade, specifically the export of American agricultural products. It is important to keep this in mind when designing the program and writing up justifications for the proposed plan.
2. Faculty mentors must have the appropriate technical background to provide the desired advanced training for the Fellow. Mentor’s experience and knowledge of relevant agricultural conditions within the Fellow’s country or a similar location will be considered as appropriate.
3. Relevant agricultural practices within the region of the university will be considered, as will relevant university resources.
4. Proposal submissions are initiated by the leading department through the EZFedGrants system and completed by ORSO. GPRS has access to the system and can provide support.