With the ever-increasing demand for smart farming solutions, agricultural opportunities have sprung to provide both youngsters and professional hands-on experience to exchange ideas, apply them to practice, and learn new techniques. From volunteering and exchange programs to bootcamps and scholarships, agricultural business is gaining momentum. Let’s have a look at opportunities that will enable you to gain experience and receive support at all stages of your professional development.
Agricultural business or agribusiness is comprised of various modes of business including farming, production, marketing of agricultural goods, and facility management for livestock and crops. With the rise of technological advancements, the industry has greatly benefited from automated processes that decrease the cost of production in comparison to traditional agrarian lifestyle. In the realms of current globalization, more and more farming exchange is influencing the way farmers operate so in order to keep up with the latest developments, we need to be aware of funding opportunities there are for anyone interested in sustainable farming and agribusiness no matter the experience.
If you are just embarking on the agribusiness path, you may want to consider volunteering on an organic farm. For this, check out WWOOF.
Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)
WWOOF is an organization that links visitors with organic farmers and growers to promote cultural and educational experiences based on trust and non-monetary exchange. Individuals from across the world benefit from opportunities to get the first-hand experience of organic farming & gardening and to lend a helping hand wherever needed.
WWOOFers stay on local farms around the world and help their hosts with various tasks depending on the type of farm. This program is a great way to learn about organic food, agriculture, and sustainable ways of living.
WWOOF is a worldwide network of organizations located in more than 132 countries. In order to participate in the exchange, first visit the complete list of destinations on this page and the register with either your local hub or WWOOF Independents. You receive access to information regarding current opportunities and hosts, you need to sign up for a one-year membership. Depending on the country, there will be a registration fee of $20-50. If you want to visit more than one country, you will need to sign up as a volunteer in each country you plan to visit.
Once you’re ready to move further on the agribusiness path, consider the European exchange program for Entrepreneurs. this program provides youth with practical exchange opportunities and information on how to start a small business.
The European Exchange Programme for Entrepreneurs
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs helps provide aspiring European entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to start and/or successfully run a small business in Europe. New entrepreneurs gather and exchange knowledge and business ideas with an experienced entrepreneur, with whom they stay and collaborate for a period of 1 to 6 months. The stay is partly financed by the European Commission.
As a new entrepreneur, you will benefit from on-the-job training in a small or medium-sized enterprise in another participating country. This will ease the successful start of your business or strengthen your new enterprise. You can also benefit from access to new markets, international cooperation and potential possibilities for collaboration with business partners abroad.
As a host entrepreneur, you can benefit from fresh ideas from a motivated new entrepreneur on your business. He may have specialised skills or knowledge in an area you do not master, which could also complement yours. Most host entrepreneurs enjoyed the experience so much that they decide to host other new entrepreneurs afterwards.
In case you are pursuing agribusiness or are considering this as part of your academic journey, the next scholarship will come in handy.
Tokyo University of Agriculture-SEARCA Scholarship for Dissertation Doctorate Program
This is a collaborative project between Tokyo University of Agriculture (Tokyo NODAI) and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The Dissertation Doctorate Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources aims to contribute to the enhancement of agricultural research and development in Southeast Asia through the provision of a Tokyo NODAI-SEARCA scholarship to complete a doctorate dissertation. The deadline is on 30 March annually.
The scholarship provides one slot annually for a three-year graduate program leading to a Dissertation Doctorate at Tokyo NODAI. The scholarship is open only to nationals of the regular member countries of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), namely: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.
Applicants must be researchers with full time employment at a university or research institution. A master’s degree in agriculture or related field is required. Candidates should have produced at least three peer-reviewed scientific papers in scholarly journals in applicant’s country or abroad and has served first author of at least one of those papers.
The scholarship includes one international round-trip plane ticket per year, living expenses covered and dissertation related budget. Candidates should provide a certification of employment, a recommendation letter from employer, and a CV.
Undergraduate Agricultural Scholarships
Many US colleges also provide agribusiness scholarships so that students can pursue the art and science of farm food production with offset financial burden. Curricula tend to cover practices involved with the production and marketing of food and other agricultural products and basics of statistics along with managerial accounting, agricultural finance and micro and macroeconomics. College Scholarships website has compiled a list of opportunities in agribusiness studies for students to choose from on this page.
Grow Ahead Scholarships for Women
For more short-term program, consider Grow Ahead. This is a crowdfunding platform that provides grants to fund community-led projects that address the local challenges of climate change. You can apply for funding for a scholarship to attend a training or workshop on agroecology or regenerative organic agriculture. Application process is ongoing.
Applicants must be a woman farmer from Africa, Asia or Latin America. You must submit a photo, create a profile, and help promote the fundraising campaign if your application is accepted. The workshop or training you choose to apply for must be focused on agroecology or regenerative organic agriculture, including agroforestry, biochar, compost, holistic management, conservation tillage, pasture cropping, permaculture, or other practices that build climate resilience.
As the population continues to rise, farmers will need to adjust their craft to the increasing demand while maintaining the quality of their products. And with the help of scholarship programs and visits, the exchange of ideas and techniques will help agribusiness develop at the same pace in many countries across the world.
Photos: Shutterstock
More opportunities for agricultural business and start-ups:
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