​USDA support for the improvement of the food production sector in Serbia

At the invitation of USDA, United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agriculture Service, six women from Serbia participated in the Cochrane scholarship program, sponsored by Isaac Ehlers-Weiss and Essence Bell (USDA), and implemented by Iowa State University, Department of Economics and the Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team (Aleksandra Ostrčil, Aria Ais doo, Danica Micanović, PKS, Ivana Panović, Slatka Jesen doo, Marija Radojčić, Iriški sir doo, Noćni bazar, Mirjana Bojčevski, MAŠV RS, Nataša Milanović, Biosil doo). More than 18,900 participants from 126 countries have attended the Kohram program so far.

Since 1984, U.S. Congress has made funds available to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Cochran Fellowship Program to provide short-term training to Fellows from middle-income and emerging market countries in order to expose agricultural officials and industry representatives to U.S. agriculture products and policies, helping facilitate lasting, global relationships. The Cochran Fellowship Program is part of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), Global Programs, Fellowship Programs has implemented U.S.-based training for over 18,900 international participants from 126 countries worldwide. 

Dr. Ebby S. Luvaga and Madeline Schultz, transferred research and knowledge from Iowa State University to build confidence and inspire the activities of the women's entrepreneurial system in the field of food production in Serbia. dr. Luvaga and Madeline Schultz developed an extremely complex and adequate course for Women in agricultural entrepreneurship and food production for Serbia, through highly professional training, examples of good practice, financing and branding, and transfer of knowledge and technology, with the aim of informing and raising the level of knowledge of the participants in order to increase sustainable food systems in Serbia and the improvement of trade and agricultural ties with the USA. Through an exceptionally designed program, skills were built in financial management, product development, food packaging, marketing, and entrepreneurship in agriculture with added value, and knowledge transfer, and at the same time tools and systems were developed that encourage business growth and promote social and economic empowerment of women. Iowa State University, as the host, has demonstrated an outstanding reputation as an open, welcoming, global and professional university.

Women from Serbia met with strong agricultural organizations (American Farm Bureau Federation), urban farms (Charles Kornier Conservancy for Urban Farming), banking system (Farm Credit Council and CoBank), accelerators for the development of innovative ideas of entrepreneurship and business (Union Kitchen Food Accelerator), government regulators and food system leaders in Washington (USDA, Iowa Department of Agriculture). They attended the Southeast Produce Council Southern Innovations conference and trade show in Nashville. In Iowa, they got to know the system of knowledge transfer through the opening of a company at the university for the production of ice cream and cheese ISU Creamery, the Center for transfer of Knowledge (ISU Horticulture Research Station), the production of vegetables through the innovative system of hydroponics Clayton farm salads, the distillery of drinks - Iowa Distilling Company, strong women leaders, Annie's Project on Farm Business Management for Women Educators and Participants, visited agricultural marketing firms such as World Food Prize, food and beverage processors and manufacturers, grocery stores, innovative companies, urban farms such as Koiner Farm, and other key areas of the food supply chain.
After the end of the program, work was done on improving the knowledge of the participants and defining individual goals, which include the development of their business through new products, new packaging, new markets, and franchising. The plan is to create national programs and policies to support other women in agriculture and encourage entrepreneurship, as well as institutional support for the success of women in Serbia. Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Serbian food industry, the Government, educational institutions, and support for entering the American market. In addition to official visits, special tours were organized to visit the Capitol, the White House, museums...