NNF fellows reflect on the impactful experiences they had during a recent study abroad in SE Asia
By Brooke Adams
In partnership with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC) and the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications (ALEC), the Smith Center has been involved in a new graduate fellowship program that focuses on international trade and development. This fellowship is funded by the National Needs Fellows Program (NNF), an initiative from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), and began in August 2023. Graduates will earn a master’s degree in either Agricultural and Resources Economics or Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications. While these students complete their graduate program of study, they will engage with a core of classes on international trade and development and participate in a global experience together as a cohort. As a part of the fellowship, these graduate students participated in a study abroad experience to Southeast Asia to enhance the skills they have acquired throughout their time in the fellowship. Find out more about this experience directly from these NNF fellows throughout this #StudyAbroadStories series!
Michelle Boutell is a graduate student in the Herbert College of Agriculture pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural leadership, education and communications with a focus in international trade and development. Her postgraduate goal is to work within international development.
At a recent lunch in Knoxville, I had a conversation with a woman who owns a farm just an hour away from the University of Tennessee. Growing mostly soy, corn, and wheat, she was curious about Tennessee’s exports to Vietnam. I shared with her that a substantial portion of those exports consist of the very same corn, soy, and wheat that her own farm specializes in!
During our meeting with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service Officers at the US consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, the NNF Fellows received a briefing on the intricate web of trade between the United States and Vietnam. It was fascinating to learn about the connectedness of our economies, as well as the implications of trade policies implemented by previous and current presidential administrations on both a short and medium-term basis. Our discussions with both foreign service officers and Vietnamese business professionals shed light on Vietnam’s burgeoning economy and its impact on the US’s national production and demand. For instance, the rapid growth of their textile industry has spurred increased demand for international cotton exports, often sourced from the United States and Australia. Moreover, as Vietnam’s middle class continues to expand, there is a rising demand for meat products, creating a larger market for US-grown animal and aquaculture feed ingredients, such as soy, corn, and wheat.
Post-consulate, our itinerary took us south to a port situated on the Mekong Delta, a hub of trade which boasts several ports facilitating the inflow and outflow of goods from around the world. LEC Group, a Vietnamese logistics company, generously provided us with a comprehensive tour of their port, on-site warehouse, and offices. During the visit, we had the opportunity to learn further about the flow of wheat and wood chips, essential commodities for animal feed and energy in the region.
It was fascinating to see how much Vietnam’s economy had grown in such a short time, driven by industries like textiles and electronics. The day’s activities highlighted the far-reaching consequences of international trade policies and their significant influence not only on growers in Tennessee, but also on industries on the other side of the planet. Working and writing on topics in agricultural development, the price of bought and sold goods has always stood out to me as a crucial piece of any project. However, this trip helped me better understand the global dynamics of agricultural trade, and how they impact businesses, farmers, and people both at home and abroad.