USDA International Agriculture Program students take a group photo in Brazil.

Educating the Future Workforce of Underrepresented Students in International Agriculture

This grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reduces barriers to traditionally under-recruited students and supports education and training in diverse, climate-smart agricultural systems that span geographic, economic, business, cultural, linguistic, scientific arenas and disciplines, preparing students for the international agribusiness workforce. Students have the choice to study in Brazil or Guatemala. They will also have the opportunity to participate in several different international internships in the U.S. and overseas. 

Program Details

This Program is available to students from all disciplines, but in particular those with an interest and curiosity in international agribusiness as well as other cultures and languages.

This grant will provide for the administration and teaching of a COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) based and in-person curriculum over all three levels — Level I (COIL class), Level II (traditional study abroad) and Level III (international internship).

Level I of the program includes the following:

  • Required virtual three-credit-hour class on International Agribusiness. The class meets two times per week. The tuition is paid by the student.
  • The class will include cultural lectures, guest speakers, case studies and global consulting projects in multicultural teams COIL.
  • For students going to Brazil, they must take a three-credit-hour Portuguese for Spanish Speakers course. The tuition is paid by the student.
Level I details

Level II of the program includes the following

  • For two to three weeks, students will visit either Brazil or Guatemala.

Brazil Program

  • Two and a half weeks in Parana and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • Students stay in a hotel with fellow classmates and attend a three-credit-hour class.
  • Tuition is paid for by the student, but all expenses related to travel, including flight, room and board are covered.
  • Details include
    • Analysis of ways to increase trade and logistical efficiencies in the AG Sector.
    • Global cultural competency and language.
    • Lectures by professors and guest speakers, business visits and cultural visits.
    • Use of Portuguese in a variety of activities.
    • Working in teams with international students.

Guatemala Program

  • One to two weeks in Guatemala City and surrounding regions at the Texas A&M’s International Agriculture Education Fellowship Program (IAEFP).
  • Students stay in hotels or with a local host family.
  • All expenses related to travel, including flight, room and board are covered.
  • Students will not receive course credit.
  • Spanish is not required but recommended.
  • Details include
    • Assisting in developing communities in establishing school-based agricultural education and youth extension programs.
    • Lectures, guest speakers and university or business visits while in Guatemala City and other regions.
    • Field-based work in local communities supporting graduate fellows.
    • Cultural visits and activities.
    • Working in international teams and with local community leaders and populations.
Level II details

Level III of the program includes the following:

  • Internship opportunities lasting from four weeks to a full year.
  • Internships may be paid or unpaid with the option of receiving up to six credit hours.
  • Possible internship areas of interest include
    • Brazil
    • Guatemala
    • Texas
    • Washington, D.C
    • USAID Foreign Agriculture Services
    • USDA Pathways
    • Texas A&M AgriLife and Research centers
    • US Commercial Services
    • International Agriculture Education Fellowship Program Guatemala
    • Eco Caminhos
    • Other domestic or international locations
Level III details

 Students must be at least in their second semester of sophomore year and must be U.S. citizens or nationals to receive scholarships through the program.

Brazil Program
Guatemala Program
Students stand on the bright red Escadaria Steps in Rio de Janeiro.
Students visited the Cargill operation plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Which is one of the largest agriculture companies in the world.
Caminhos Language Center.
USDA International Agriculture Program students take picture with the Christ the Redeemer statue.
Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Ipanema beach
First day of internship learning about agroforestry.
Tree climbing workshop for pruning in agroforestry.
Botanical Garden, Curitiba, Brazil.
Two female students at the Botanical Garden, Curitiba, Brazil.
Female student harvesting bananas at the EcoCaminhos Farm during the USDA International Agriculture Program.
EcoCaminhos program students take a photo at the Caminhos Language Center.
Students hike up to Chapeu da Bruxa.
Nova Friburgo, Brazil.
Nova Friburgo, Brazil.
Dinning room in Nova Friburgo, Brazil.
EcoFarm, Nova Friburgo.
Chapeu da Bruxa.
Students visited the Cargill operation plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Which is one of the largest agriculture companies in the world.
Students visited the Cargill operation plant in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Which is one of the largest agriculture companies in the world.
Nova Friburgo, Brazil.
Chapeu da Bruxa.

Key Dates

  • Level I: Jan. to May 2026
  • Level II: May 2026
  • Level III: Summer 2026 and beyond
Students visit the CaminNhos Language Center during the USDA International Agriculture Program

I really enjoyed learning from others, experiencing a new culture, learning a new language and meeting a lot of new people. If given the chance, I would take the opportunity again in a heartbeat.”

Daisy Zapatero
Brazil— USDA EcoCaminhos Program

About the Grant

Female student harvesting bananas at the EcoCaminhos Farm during the USDA International Agriculture Program.

The USDA and its associated agencies anticipate needing to fill thousands of jobs in the coming decade. As part of this goal, it is targeting Hispanic and other minority undergraduate and graduate students who have not been traditionally recruited or hired by the USDA.

The objective is to develop students’ international workforce knowledge and skills in the areas of Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences (FANH), with a broader objective of rewriting the narrative surrounding the USDA and the mission-critical careers available to underrepresented (URM) students in the international agricultural sector.

The grant will focus on providing financial and logistical support, experiential and project-based learning, and FANH-based knowledge to promote, retain and graduate underrepresented students, with advanced undergraduate and graduate students being the target population for participation.

The grant impacts approximately 36 students per year (26 undergraduate and 10 graduate), focuses on Latin America, and is administered by St. Mary’s University, Texas A&M – Kingsville, Texas A&M’s Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture and Development, and Texas A&M’s Center for International Business and Education (CIBE).

Partners

St. Mary's University logo
Texas A&M University logo
Texas A&M Kingsville University logo
The Borlaug Institute logo
USDA FAS logo

Faculty

St. Mary’s University

Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Texas A&M University

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