This year marked 15 years since the start of the Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program. Students participating in this high-impact, experiential study abroad program collaborate with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) staff on a research topic to advance their understanding of real-world food and agriculture issues. Over 15 years, CALS has partnered with the following FAO divisions - Animal Production and Health, Markets and Trade, Forestry, Food and Nutrition, Nutrition and Consumer Protection, Economic and Social Development, and Rural Infrastructure and Agro Industries over a wide-range of critical topics.
The program is intensive with around 10 students each year working under the guidance of study abroad program directors on a problem identified by collaborators at FAO. Students spend the spring semester on campus honing their research skills and gaining knowledge about the topic. At the end of the spring semester, students and program directors travel to Rome and spend a month working directly with FAO staff.
This year, the program was led by Dr. Carmen Bain, Dr. Amani Elobeid, Dr. Ebby Luvaga and Shelley Taylor. Students focused on two projects:
- The drivers and barriers to the adoption of digital agriculture
- Exploring the significance of terrestrial animal-sourced foods, with a particular emphasis on camelids, in addressing food and nutrition challenges.
Program directors for this program rotate from year-to-year. CALS faculty interested in leading this program and/or learning more about this program are encouraged to reach out to Carmen Bain at cbain@iastate.edu.
