Convoy of Hope believes that food is freedom. Giving someone the ability to grow crops and to know where their next meal will come from can change their life. That’s why Convoy has been developing an agriculture extension network that enables scientists to test farming practices and see which ones produce the greatest yields.
Designated agricultural areas at Convoy’s new campus in Springfield, Missouri, are helping experts determine which growing techniques work best in different countries, climates, and soil compositions.
Right now, several experimentation plots of corn and beans are in the ground. Some are doing well, and others are not — but that’s the point. Convoy is experimenting with a controlled set of variables so our farmers around the world don’t have to. Through collaboration with partners and experts in the field, Convoy hopes to help more people produce more food through environmentally friendly and culturally relevant methods. Over time, Convoy’s training and coaching will help advance agriculture science and innovation everywhere.
As in-house scientists conduct research, their knowledge will be passed on to those in Convoy’s programs around the world. This helps farmers adopt new techniques with confidence without the risk of experimenting on their own fields.
“A farmer is a farmer anywhere. They have to know it will succeed, see it working, and make a profit,” said Senior Director for the Center for Agriculture and Food Security Jason Streubel. “If they don’t, they’ll never adopt it.”
Experts have provided hands-on training through Convoy’s Agriculture initiative for years. The goal is to exponentially increase the number of farmers we train and equip. But the positive effects of agriculture training will reach far beyond individual households. Agriculture is transforming entire communities, such as Uttam’s in Nepal. For Uttam, the training and knowledge from Convoy has put more money in his pocket and more food on his family’s table.
Convoy is excited to share more developments about our agriculture extension network. The network will help Convoy equip farmers, gardeners, schools, and feeding program centers with the knowledge and training they need to succeed.
