Programs

Worldwide 

Program Dates:

2007-2016

The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program supports the exchange of cocoa scientists from the Americas, Southeast Asia and Africa. The program sponsors science fellows to complete a two- to three-month research fellowship in the United States, acquiring skills and knowledge that can be shared broadly upon their return home. In turn, mentors who work with individual fellows during their stay abroad travel to the fellow’s home country to broaden the program’s impact.

Fellows work closely with their assigned mentors, learn new research techniques, access fully equipped libraries, and learn about public-private research partnerships. It is expected that the Fellows will apply the knowledge obtained through the program in their own research and teaching activities, and share it with colleagues at their home institutions and throughout their countries.  The Fellows’ mentors then have the opportunity to travel to the Fellows’ institutions.

Program Objectives:

• To build the capacity of research institutes in cocoa-producing countries to conduct research that supports the modernization and competiveness of the cocoa sector
• To improve researchers’ understanding of the cocoa supply chain
• To strengthen networks between U.S. and producing country research institutes

Progress to Date:

To date, 20 Fellows have completed their fellowships. An additional 20 fellowships will be awarded through 2016.

“I was a recipient of the Cocoa Borlaug Fellowship which enabled me to train…on the use of quick and affordable soil test kits for Nigerian cocoa soils…with these soil test kits, resource poor, small holder cocoa farmers in Nigeria could have access to soil testing before fertilizer recommendation and application, which guarantees increased production and reduced environmental…pollution, thus impacting positively on the farmers.”
Dr. Moses Ogunlade
2011 Cocoa Borlaug Fellow, Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria