Deadline: 27 January 2025
The US Embassy Yerevan is pleased to announce the opening of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cochran Fellowship Program (CFP) competition for short-term (2-3 weeks) training in the United States for senior and mid-level women agriculturists, managers and administrators concerned with agricultural development, trade, agribusiness management and marketing from public and private sectors.
Recognizing that women play an integral role in agriculture, including global food production, USDA/FAS remains committed to strengthening women in agriculture as they endeavor to provide sustainable resources for their families and communities. To achieve this, and in support of the United Nations designation of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, USDA/FAS continues to support international female scientists, policymakers, producers and business owners through FAS fellowship and exchange programs.
Fellows will receive an in-depth overview of food processing, packaging, and value chains during their training program. The objective is to increase knowledge of U.S. food ingredients and processing systems to enhance agricultural sustainability and food security, as well as drive local prosperity and business growth by promoting female social and economic empowerment.
The training program will include visits to wholesalers and retail markets to see proper handling, storage, and merchandising of fresh produce. Where applicable, Fellows will meet with various U.S. regulatory agencies.
Topics
- The training program will include the following topics:
- value-added processing technologies
- post-harvest technology
- product development
- sensory evaluation techniques
- food packaging
- processing and nutritional quality
- functional foods
- nutraceuticals
- value-added entrepreneurship.
Application Requirements
- Completed application should include:
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- 1 Passport Photograph
- 1 Photocopy of Passport Page (front page only)
- Signed and Initialed Conditions of Training (page 8)
- Medical Clearance Documentation (upon acceptance into the program)
- Signed Photo Consent Form (page 9)
For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Armenia.
