The IR-4 Project is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA-FAS) to host four international researchers for a Borlaug fellowship in 2022 at NC State University. The fellowship is funded through a $100,000 grant from the USDA-FAS Borlaug Fellowship Program and is designed to foster agriculture relationships with the fellows’ host countries while breaking down trade barriers on specialty crops.

Specialty crops include many of the fruits and vegetables recommended for a healthy diet, as well as the flowers, trees, and shrubs that enhance our environment. Currently, maximum residue limits (MRLs) for pest management tools used on many specialty crops are not the same internationally, resulting in American specialty crop growers encountering difficulties when exporting crops. 

“Through partnerships such as the Borlaug Fellowship, we are continuing to build capacity in other countries to partner with IR-4 when U.S. specialty crop research priorities align with trading partners. Equally important, experience shows that these exchanges enhance relationships that will support the harmonization of MRLs across borders and improve access to safe pest management tools and healthy crops,” said IR-4 Project Executive Director Jerry Baron. “We’re excited to host these accomplished researchers and give them a first-hand look at the work our team is doing for the international community.”

Mid-career researchers will be selected from Indonesia, Peru, South Africa, and Vietnam for the 19-day fellowship where they will learn about the American regulatory system for pest management tools on specialty crops, as well as the science and process involved in global harmonization of MRLs. 

During the fellowship, researchers will participate in a specialty crop residue study. They will visit research sites, observe and participate in field trials, and work with IR-4 staff in analytical labs to conduct analysis on residue levels. The Borlaug fellowship will take place primarily at IR-4 Project Headquarters at NC State University. Fellows will also spend time at IR-4’s Western Regional Analytical Laboratory located at the University of California, Davis.

The IR-4 Project was chosen by USDA-FAS for this grant because of its mission to support the harmonization of MRLs internationally to decrease trade barriers and allow specialty crop growers global access to new pest management technologies. Furthermore, NC State University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences international programs have a significant global footprint and are equipped to provide support to this community of fellows.

“NC State CALS has built a strong relationship with the international agriculture community, and our research continues to be at the forefront of addressing global challenges, ” said NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Dean Richard Linton. “This partnership between the IR-4 Project and the Borlaug Fellowship Program will ultimately increase access to healthy crops, while also highlighting the important work of IR-4 and the CALS community on a global scale.”

The fellowship is expected to take place in the fall of 2022, pending approval of USDA-FAS and any COVID travel restrictions at the time. 

About the IR-4 Project
The mission of the IR-4 Project is to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technologies for specialty crops and specialty uses to promote public well-being. By working directly with local crop growers across the country, IR-4 conducts research and develops data necessary for the registration of pest management tools, ensuring that they are safe for use. To learn more, visit our website at ir4project.org.