Fully Funded To USA: Apply for USDA Cochran Fellowship Program 2025

The USDA Foreign Agricultural Services has opened the application for the Cochran Fellowship Program 2025 focusing on Food Safety Standards. This program is a great opportunity for both public and private sector professionals to learn more about U.S. standards and regulations relating to food safety. Participants will gain experience in the U.S. agricultural industry with the goal of improving food safety and global food security in their own countries.

Overview of the Cochran Fellowship Program

The Cochran Fellowship Program offers 2-3 weeks of intensive training on U.S. Food safety regulations. This training is for people who work in food safety, regulatory agencies or food production. The fellows will learn science based safety measures aligned with international standards and deepen their understanding of U.S. regulations.

The University of Tennessee partners with CFP to provide a 2-week training course, which includes interactions with U.S. food producers, regulatory agencies, and safety organizations. The Fellows will be able to observe the collaboration between the public and private sector in implementing food security protocols.

Program Objectives

The Cochran Fellowship Program has as its primary goal:

• Improve knowledge of U.S. Food Safety Regulations by fellows
• Align the food safety standards of participating countries to international standards.
• Promoting U.S. food-safety measures while contributing global food safety.
• Participation in the system of international trade should be increased, especially in relation to food safety.

Themes for Key Training

Fellows will receive comprehensive training that includes:

1. U.S. Food Safety Regulations
   • Understand traceability, risk assessments, and key regulatory agencies such as the FDA APHIS EPA and FSIS.
2. International Trade Agreements
   • Explore how the U.S. reacts to global agreements such as the World Trade Organization, Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures and Technical Barriers to Trade.
3. Food Safety Modernization Act
   • Learn about the implications and implementation of the FSMA within the U.S. regulatory structure.
4. Risk Assessment of Food Processing
   • Understanding the risk assessment in different stages of food production including handling, processing and transportation.
5. Good Agricultural Practices
   • Discussions on best practices for agriculture, laboratory standards and safety protocols will help to reduce risks.
6. How to Respond to Foodborne Illness
   • Explore strategies to address foodborne illness outbreaks, and conduct food safety audits.

The Application Process and the Requirements

To be eligible, applicants must meet certain criteria:

1. Application form
   • Fill out the official application form as it is, without making any changes.
2. Certificates of Degree
   • Please submit copies of your diplomas.
3. Passport Copies
   • Please provide a copy the ID page of your passport.

The deadline for applications is the 1 November 2024. Prepare your documents well in advance and submit your application before the deadline.

Fully funded

The Cochran Fellowship Program provides fully-funded training. This includes all expenses associated with the fellowship including travel, accommodations, and training material.

Eligibility Criteria

In order to apply for the program, you must meet these requirements:

• You must be a person working in the private or public sector and have a strong interest in standards for food safety.
• English proficiency is required.
• Before traveling to the U.S., applicants must be in excellent physical and mental health. A comprehensive physical examination is required.

Eligible Countries

The applicant must be a citizen or resident of one of these countries.

• Angola
• Botswana
• Eswatini
• Lesotho
• Madagascar
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• South Africa
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Application Details

Visit the official website to find out more and apply for the Cochran Fellowship Program.

The Cochran Fellowship Program is a unique opportunity to gain international exposure and in-depth training in food safety standards . With a focus on strengthening food safety systems globally, this program offers participants the tools they need to make significant contributions to the global food security and international trade systems . Don’t miss the chance to enhance your expertise and join this prestigious fellowship.