Newsletter: Stories of young volunteers and an Ethiopian scientist
Our grant workshop was well attended, with over 500 registrants. If you are an India-based agricultural scientist, you may submit an expression of interest here by July 25.
We are currently recruiting peer reviewers who are agricultural scientists, agricultural economists, and international development professionals to evaluate agricultural science grant applications from India. If you are interested, please register here and you may be contacted with applications to review.
Thank you to everyone who shared feedback on our newsletter. We were happy to hear that the topics covered resonated with most of you. While suggestions varied, there was no consensus to make significant changes, so we’ll keep building on what’s working.
Thank you to all of those who provided feedback on the newsletter. Respondents generally liked the newsletter and there was no consensus to make any significant changes.
In this issue, we highlight the contributions of our younger volunteers, who bring enthusiasm to everything from networking to media to technical support. We also tell a story of Jemal Abdulkerim Ute, an agronomy professor in Ethiopia leading our grant to improve irrigated wheat production.
Yours in a Food-Secure Future,
Peter Kelly, Founder, Grow Further
The Youth Driving Grow Further’s Mission Forward
Meet the Youth Driving Grow Further’s Mission Forward Young leaders are stepping up to power the future of food security. From college campuses to international conferences, interns and student volunteers are playing a crucial role in advancing Grow Further’s mission. In this story, we spotlight the next generation of advocates—passionate changemakers bringing fresh ideas, energy, and commitment to the fight against global hunger. Their stories are a testament to what’s possible when youth take the lead.
Ethiopia’s Wheat and Irrigation Project Team Leader: Jemal Abdulkerim Ute
Meet Jemal Abdulkerim Ute, an agronomy professor leading a groundbreaking effort to transform wheat production in Ethiopia. With support from a $68,000 Grow Further grant, his team is testing off-season wheat varieties and innovative irrigation strategies to boost year-round yields and reduce the country’s dependence on imports. In this profile, learn how Abdulkerim’s personal journey, scientific vision, and farmer-focused approach are helping shape a more food-secure future for Ethiopia.
Funding Opportunity for Agricultural Research in India!
Grow Further invites Expressions of Interest from registered organizations in India for innovative, field-based ag research benefiting smallholder farmers.
We fund projects with real-world impact in:
Key Date & Details📅 July 25: EOI Deadline🔗 Learn more & apply
Food Security & Agricultural News
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How Facial Recognition for Cows Is Unlocking Credit for Rural African Women Sub-Saharan Africa has around 200 million smallholder farmers, a significant proportion of whom raise livestock. Women account for up to 60 percent of these farmers, representing an economic force of 80-120 million rural female livestock keepers. Read more.
Farming Goes High-Tech with Google’s AI Tools, Promises Higher Income for Indian Farmers 85% of Indian farmers are smallholders, with an average landholding of just 1.08 hectares. The fragmented nature of farmland makes it difficult and costly to deploy AI solutions at scale. Read more.
The Crash No One Sees Coming: Food System Failure As climate extremes intensify, the next financial crisis may not come from housing or tech, but from a climate-driven breakdown in the global food system. Read more.
Gates Foundation pushes for climate-smart food systems in APAC Dr Ana Maria Loboguerrero, Director for Adaptive and Equitable Food Systems at the Gates Foundation, outlines the unique challenges and opportunities facing food systems in APAC. She emphasizes the need for holistic solutions that integrate climate adaptation, gender equity, and nutrition. Read more.