Background:

The Horticulture Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) has just released a new call for Trellis Fund project proposals and student applicants, as the program prepares to fund a third round of projects that will begin July 1.

“We feel that Trellis is an excellent opportunity to introduce international development to students who may have not considered that as a career,” said Elizabeth Mitcham, Horticulture CRSP director.

U.S. graduate students from the University of California, Davis, Cornell University, North Carolina State University and University of Hawaii at Manoa are invited to apply to be part of the Trellis projects. Selected students will be reimbursed for travel expenses to visit their assigned project and receive a small fellowship for 100 hours of additional project support via email.

At the same time, organizations in 18 developing countries—from Bangladesh to Zambia—are invited to submit proposals for up to $2,000 in funding to conduct adaptive research and outreach on problems faced by local farmers in horticultural production, pest management, postharvest practices, nutrition or marketing fruit and vegetable crops. Proposals must outline the expertise that the organization needs from a U.S. graduate student, as well as goals and activities of the project.

Horticulture CRSP will select up to 12 of the most successful project proposals for funding and then pair a student with related expertise to the project. Project proposals and student applications are due by March 4.