Land-Grant Extension as a Global Endeavor: Connecting Knowledge and International Development

Two land-grant institutions, Michigan State University (MSU) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) used funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to partner with the National University of Rwanda (NUR) to support the agriculture faculty in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. In addition, the three institutions implemented key elements of the land-grant model (extension and outreach) for coffee farmers. Among positive results were training new faculty, increased product quality, and higher income for the farmers. These successes illustrate elements of the land-grant model and university partnerships that can be leveraged to reduce poverty and increase public benefits.