About the Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership Program

The Dean's Global Agriculture and Food Leadership program is a unique, client-based international experience analyzing and evaluating complex international issues in food security, world hunger, and sustainable resource development and policy.

Under the mentorship of ISU faculty program directors, students from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences will combine coursework conducted at ISU and on-site work with professionals at the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to explore real-world projects focused on global food and agriculture issues.

Skills Development: The students that participate in this program will:

• assess, analyze, and evaluate complex issues
• learn to do research and distinguish scientific and high-quality information
• learn how to work on high-functioning teams and find solutions to complex problems
• learn to identify new skills and how to integrate and develop them for other countries and specific situations
• develop and evaluate a case study of a complex global issue
• strengthen verbal and written professional communication skills

Cultivating Young Professionals: Students that participate in this program gain skills that benefit them for life. Alumni can be found working in diverse roles, including; veterinary medicine, nutrition, grain merchandising, ag lending, farm management, medicine, legislative policy, teaching, biology, law enforcement, marketing, and more!

Making a global impact: Each year, the FAO selects a research area for the students to evaluate complex issues associated with global agriculture and food like biodiversity, foreign food aid, food security, food safety, environmental and resource conservation, global economy and the role of the US and the UN in these issues. At the conclusion of the project, the final research is utilized by the FAO as they make policy decisions and available as a resource for other interested parties.

How to get involved: 

All CALS students are encouraged to consider applying for this program.

Selection criteria includes:

• Major (s) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
• good academic standing
• Junior or senior status (preferred)
• willingness and interest in experiential learning and agriculture, natural resources, and food

Selected students will spend four weeks in Rome working on projects in addition to the pre-departure course the semester before. Students will spend 20 to 30 hours per week on their projects over the summer and will cumulate the program with a final research paper, presentation, or report for the FAO. Several field trips will also be organized around the project content and could include meetings with the US Mission to the UN Agencies, conferences in Rome with agricultural topics, and visits to local farms or food/agribusinesses. Learn more about the program or apply.

Past Projects:

2023:

1. Genome Editing in Livestock. Research paper, annotated bibliography and presentation (Animal Production and Health Division (NSAG) with Paul Boettcher, Roswitha Baumung, Rama Jalab and Gregoire Leroy)
2. Challenges in Livestock Phenotyping. Research paper, annotated bibliography and presentation (Animal Production and Health Division (NSAG) with Paul Boettcher, Roswitha Baumung, Rama Jalab and Gregoire Leroy)

2022:

1. Defining the Enabling Environment for Sustainable Production and Trade of Avocados in the United States. Research paper, presentation (Responsible Fruit Value Chains, Markets and Trade Division (EST) with MarloKaye Rankin, Michael Riggs, and EricJasper Karlsson)
2. Improving Standards and Methods for Capturing Wild Foods & Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS) in Dietary Surveys. Research paper, guidance note, summary, presentation (Forestry Division with Giulia Muir (NFO), Food and Nutrition Division with Maria Antonia-Tuazon (ESN) and Office of Chief Statistician with Simona Sorrenti (OCS))

2021: 

2020: Did not travel due to covid. 

1. Utilizing Nutrition‐Sensitive Agriculture in Sierra Leone and Ghana: Analysis of Crops and Fisheries. Research paper and annotated bibliography, development of theory of change diagrams for use in FAO conference (Food and Nutrition Division (ESN) with Patrizia Fracassi)

2019: 

1. An Evaluation of in-vitro Meat as an Emerging Commercialized Protein Source. Research paper, annotated bibliography, technical power point, and overview PowerPoint with speaking notes (Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (AGAL) with Tim Robinson and Paul Boettcher)
2. Sustainability Implications of the Global Shift Toward Plant‐Based Diets. Research paper, annotated bibliography, technical power point, and overview PowerPoint with speaking notes (Livestock Information, Sector Analysis and Policy Branch (AGAL) with Tim Robinson and Paul Boettcher)

Additional professional development opportunity: Global Agenda for Sustainable Livestock (GASL) 9th Multi‐Stakeholder Partnership Meeting: Innovation for Sustainable Livestock Systems, September 2019, Manhattan, Kansas; both teams presented posters.

2018: 

1. Bee Health and Populations: A Comparison of Traditional Mediterranean Agriculture vs. Intensive Agriculture Production Systems in Southern Europe. Literature review and educational tool (Economic and Social Development Department with Fatima Hachem, Tomas Buendia, Ana Islas Ramos, Michele Rude and Melissa Vargas) 
2. Addressing Sustainability of the Mediterranean Diet (MD) & Food Waste: Educating Primary School Children. Literature review and educational tool (Economic and Social Development Department with Fatima Hachem, Tomas Buendia, Ana Islas Ramos, Michele Rude and Melissa Vargas)

2017: 

1. State of Food and Agriculture in the World report; Contribution to the SOFA 2017 Agricultural and Rural Transformation report: How can Inclusiveness and Nutrition be Drivers to Lift People out of Poverty? Research paper, information for infographics, and presentation (Andrea Cattaneo (ESD)
2. State of Food and Agriculture in the World report; Contribution to the SOFA 2017 Optimization of Food Systems Transitions to Enhance Human Health: Leveraging Food Systems for Inclusive Rural Transformation report. Research paper and presentation (Andrea Cattaneo (ESD)

Complete list of past projects (2009-2023)

Questions or want to learn more about the program? Contact Carmen Bain or Shelley Taylor.