As one of the nation’s most important centers for research in sustainable agriculture, CEFS’ doors are always open to visitors. After a long break due to COVID, our Field Research, Education, and Outreach Facility located at Cherry Research Farm in Goldsboro, N.C. welcomed our first international visitors. A Brazilian delegation from the International Visitor Leadership Program made a stop in Goldsboro, NC on their three week training and networking tour across the country.

Emerging leaders in climate and sustainable agriculture research were invited by the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program to meet and exchange viewpoints with their U.S. counterparts and gain new insights on topics like exploring best practices in land use, environmental protection, rural development, and agricultural technologies.

“CEFS has always welcomed international visitors, and we are glad our doors are open again,” says Dr. Michelle Schroeder-Moreno, CEFS Director at NC State University. “Many CEFS-affiliated faculty have experience in international research, and understand the value of knowing what happens in other countries and what we can learn from them.”

The visit focused on the research at the Agroforestry Unit and the Farming Systems Research Unit. Maisie Rising, Program Coordinator with International Focus explains that “the delegation includes participants with different backgrounds, with researchers, journalists, and other experts sharing a common interest in environmental issues. We thought it would be important for the group to visit CEFS and learn about the benefits for farmers working silvopastoral systems, and how researchers are measuring greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural fields.”

CEFS-affiliated faculty and staff had the opportunity to meet the visitors and show how North Carolina farmers can adapt their farming practices to address climate change while remaining economically profitable. As one of the visitors shared, “Agriculture is context-specific, but the process of how we carry out research is where we can exchange ideas and practices.”

One of the most salient features of the visit was the tour of the Farming Systems Research Unit, where the delegation had the chance to learn about long-term research in cropping systems. “It’s fascinating to see this joint effort between different institutions,” continues one of the participants. “We have similar research goals of empowering farmers to address climate change in Brazil, and the research at CEFS shows what can be accomplished with strong collaboration between different institutions,” referring to the groundbreaking partnership between NC State University, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

“A big part of delegation is networking, and to win the battle on climate change we need to have a common language and approach. Farmers are often held responsible for their climate impact, but we recognize that they are also the ones doing the job of addressing climate change.” CEFS remains committed to finding the right tools to fight climate change in agriculture while strengthening the international movement that can support farmers in doing so.

International Visitor Leadership Program
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The International Visitor Leadership Program is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program. Each year approximately 5,000 emerging leaders come to the U.S. as participants in this program; they are typically mid-year professionals between 25-45 years of age. Since its start, more than 200,000 International Visitors have participated, including over 330 current or former Chiefs of State or Heads of Government. Participants are nominated and selected by staff at U.S. Embassies worldwide and invited for a 3-week trip to 4-6 American cities. For many International Visitors (IVs), this is their first visit to the U.S. During their 4 to 5 day stay in each city, IVs meet with their U.S. counterparts to exchange viewpoints and gain new insights on professionally related topics, as well as experience U.S. culture through activities and in-home dinner experiences.