USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) invites U.S. higher education and research institutions to submit proposals for the 2026 Borlaug and Cochran Fellowship Programs. This $3,675,000 investment funds U.S.-based scientific collaboration and training designed to dismantle foreign barriers to trade, advance regulatory frameworks based in science, and secure new pathways for U.S. agricultural export.

USDA-FAS’s fiscal year 2026 investment will fund collaborative research and training based in the United States. These programs directly support U.S. agriculture by reducing foreign trade barriers, advancing science-based regulations, and opening new export markets for U.S. commodities. 

2026 funding portfolios: 

• Borlaug Fellowship Program ($2.625M total): Funds 6 programs up to $750,000 each. Focuses on long-term scientific research, biotechnology, and regulatory alignment. 
• Cochran Fellowship Program ($1.050M total): Funds 7 programs up to $150,000 each. Focuses on short-term hands-on training for international buyers and regulatory officials. 

High-priority trade objectives & regional targets: 

Selected U.S. institutions will host international fellows to directly advance 4 critical U.S. trade priorities: 

1. Expand markets for softwood lumber in Vietnam’s growing manufacturing and construction sectors by demonstrating the quality, grading and structural applications of American wood.  
2. Increase market access for U.S. poultry and consumer products in Uzbekistan and Egypt by showcasing America’s food safety standards, building trust with buyers and government officials. 
3. Advance biotechnology across North Africa and Southeast Asia by encouraging science-based regulations that increase opportunities for U.S. exports of genetically engineered corn, soy, and distillers dried grains. 
4. Lower non-tariff trade barriers tied to gene editing in Egypt by establishing a peer-to-peer scientific partnership with government researchers, helping align Egypt’s technical standards with U.S. feed and food frameworks. 

U.S. colleges and universities, land-grant institutions, and State cooperative institutions are eligible to apply. If selected, partners will be required to design curriculum, provide technical mentorship, manage travel logistics, and report on measurable trade impacts. 

How to apply: 

The full program criteria, specific country allocations, and submission portals are live on Grants.gov at:  

• Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program FY2026
• Cochran Fellowship Programs FY2026

The deadline to apply for both programs is August 14, 2026, 11:59 pm EST. 

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 16, 2026

USDA launched a Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) mission to Argentina and Ecuador to open new markets and strengthen export opportunities for U.S. farmers, ranchers and producers. Built on reciprocal trade and investment agreements signed with Argentina and Ecuador earlier this year, the mission led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, aims to increase fair access to 2 of the Western Hemisphere’s fastest-growing markets.

In 2025 alone, the U.S. exported $166 million in seeds, essential oils, livestock genetics, tree nuts and more to Argentina. The same year, $595 million in agricultural products were exported to Ecuador, including soybean meal, wheat, and other feeds and fodders.

Staff from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will lead industry tours, host business-to-business meetings, and meet with Argentine and Ecuadorian officials to support U.S. trade priorities and U.S. agricultural producers. The delegation includes representatives from 

1. California Almonds – Modesto, Calif.
2. USA Poultry & Egg Export Council – Tucker, Ga.
3. U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council – Washington, D.C.
4. U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. – Mount Horeb, Wis.
5. U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colo.
6. U.S. Soybean Export Council – Chesterfield, Mo. 
7. U.S. Wheat Associates – Arlington, Va.

This is USDA’s 4th TRUMP mission of 2026. TRUMP missions provide rapid response to new market opportunities, directly connecting U.S farmers and producers with foreign buyers and governments to negotiate improved access, promote fair trade, and ensure the benefits of overseas trade flow back to the farms, ranches, and rural communities that sustain U.S. agriculture. 

For more information on USDA trade missions, visit fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions.

Source: USDA-FAS Newsroom, June 2, 2026