Six women from Serbia were inspired to grow their businesses and generate support for women in agriculture though a two-week educational program offered by the Iowa State University Department of Economics and the Extension and Outreach Farm Management Team.
Ebby Luvaga and Madeline Schultz developed the Women in Agriculture Entrepreneurship and Food Production for Serbia course for the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Cochran Fellowship Program. The experiential training was held September 8 to September 22, 2024, in Washington, DC and Nashville, TN, as well as the Ames and Des Moines, IA area.
The overall goals of the program were to increase sustainable food systems in Serbia and to enhance trade and agricultural linkages with the United States. The program was designed to build skills in financial management, product development, food packaging, marketing, and value-added agriculture entrepreneurship, while also driving business growth and promoting women’s social and economic empowerment.
The Cochran Fellows met with agricultural member-organizations, entrepreneurship and business development accelerators, and governmental regulators and food systems leaders in DC. They attended the Southeast Produce Council Southern Innovations conference and trade show in TN. In Iowa, they met strong women leaders, Annie’s Project farm business management for women educators and participants, and learned how the global Dress for Success non-profit supports women’s career entry or re-entry. They also visited agricultural marketing firms, food and beverage processors and producers, grocery stores, farms, and other key areas of the food supply chain.
After completing the program, the Cochran Fellows primary goals include growing their businesses through new products, new packaging, new markets, and franchising. They plan to create national programs and policies to support other women in agriculture and encourage entrepreneurship, as well as support Dress for Success in Serbia. Overall, the group plans to seek greater collaboration and partnerships among the Serbian food industry, government, and educational institutions.
The Cochran Fellowship Program is an excellent opportunity for faculty engagement and development. Faculty and extension professionals transferred research and knowledge from Iowa State University to build confidence and inspire the women’s entrepreneurial food systems activities back home in Serbia.
This networking and collaboration opportunity resulted in strong connections with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, as well as the Serbian Ministry of Agriculture, Chamber of Commerce, and business owners. The program increased goodwill for Iowa State University and showcased the university’s reputation as a global, welcoming, and vibrant research, teaching, and extension institution.
