There are professionals from a wide range of backgrounds, including private sector agriculture, working in food security today.
Daniel White, associate director of agriculture at ACDI/VOCA, pointed to the example of one of his coworkers — and one of the most dynamic minds looking at rice and maize marketing in East Africa — who has a degree in art history.
Whether Peace Corps or private sector, the most important thing for a career in the sector is to find a way to spend some time in the field, he said. It’s important to have the opportunity to understand not only a smallholder farmer’s link in a value chain, but also his or her day-to-day life and habits.
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About the author
Kelli Rogers@kellierin
Kelli Rogers has worked as an Associate Editor and Southeast Asia Correspondent for Devex, with a particular focus on gender. Prior to that, she reported on social and environmental issues from Nairobi, Kenya. Kelli holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri, and has reported from more than 20 countries.