Participants from the 2018 RIFA Conference pose for a group photo.

Graduate Students Prepare for International Projects in Agriculture and Food Systems

From May 4-8 2018, graduate students selected for the Research and Innovation Fellowship for Agriculture program (RIFA) attended the third annual RIFA Conference and Project Planning Short Course in Point Reyes, California in preparation for their upcoming international projects in agriculture, food systems, and development. 

The RIFA program has offered graduate students from the University of California system the opportunity to partner with host institutions on two to six-month-long international projects in developing countries. This year, Fellows will be traveling to 11 different countries on four different continents in hopes of collaborating with their host organizations in addressing global challenges. Each RIFA fellow will receive round trip airfare and a stipend for each month they are in country, with most leaving this summer and returning sometime in early fall. 

RIFA’s third annual conference took place on May 4 from 2pm-6pm at the Red Barn Educational Annex near the Bear Valley Visitors Center. The day’s activities consisted of discussion panels, presentations, and technical break-out sessions, with RIFA’s Associate Director, Elana Peach-Fine, and Director, David Miller, hosting the events. Event highlights included an alumni panel, where past RIFA participants gave personal advice and insight into the logistics of completing research abroad, as well as a poster presentation session of past projects. 

The annual RIFA conference is a joint event with RIFA’s sister program, the Global Development Fellowship program at UC Berkeley. Several global development fellows joined the day’s events accompanied by their program director, George Scharffenberger, who helped to host the program.

Read the full story on the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences International Programs website.


About Graduate Studies

Graduate Studies at UC Davis includes 99 dynamic degree programs and a diverse and interactive student body from around the world. Known for our state-of-the-art research facilities, productive laboratories and progressive spirit – UC Davis offers collaborative and interdisciplinary curricula through graduate groups and designated emphasis options, bringing students and faculty of different academic disciplines together to address real-world challenges.

UC Davis graduate students and postdoctoral scholars become leaders in their fields: researchers, teachers, politicians, mentors and entrepreneurs. They go on to guide, define and impact change within our global community.

For information on Graduate Studies’ current strategic initiatives, visit the Graduate Studies strategic plan page.

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