Trellis Fund

Connecting local organizations with student agricultural expertise

The Trellis Fund connects organizations in developing countries with U.S. graduate students from Innovation Lab for Horticulture partner institutions who have agricultural expertise, generating benefits for both the students and the in-country institutions. Together, they collaborate on short-term projects to address horticultural challenges faced by local farmers.

Trellis Fund accomplishments

Since 2011, the Innovation Lab for Horticulture has awarded 76 projects to 60 organizations in 17 countries. These grants have supported:

12,471 training participants (65% women)
261 demonstration plots
374 training and extension meetings

What's happening with the Trellis Fund now

The sixth round of Trellis Fund projects has been completed (and are also available in the Trellis Fund fact sheet). The first-ever Trellis Fund Summit was held in March 2019 to gather Trellis alumni — both students and lead organizations – for networking, capacity building and program evaluation as part of the Innovation Lab for Horticulture 2019 annual meeting.

We anticipate the next opportunity to apply for Trellis Fund grants will take place in late 2022 at the earliest, depending on funding availability.

Most recent projects Trellis Fund fact sheet How to start a Trellis Fund

Trellis Fund blog posts

Woman leads discussion about a garden map with a group of community members at an educational event

How international experiences helped propel these NC State alumni into ag extension careers

Traveling to work with farmers abroad via the Trellis Fund provided insights that drove these students' careers forward.

UH Manoa student with local extension agent at front of classroom full of farmers and agricultural professionals in Tanzania

Student researchers take top honors in Agrilinks contest

Three students from our global network were honored by Agrilinks for writing about international agriculture experiences with the Horticulture Innovation Lab.

close up on young leaves of sweet potato plant

How to cook sweet potato leaves, with thanks from Ethiopia

Did you know the leaves of the sweet potato plant are also a tasty, nutritious food? In Ethiopia, where sweet potatoes can be a staple crop, a UC Davis student recently helped farmers reconsider their sweet potato crop in a new culinary light. Watch this video...

Young man takes notes, while older man points to a plant in a field with two women to discuss

New projects in Africa and Asia to help fruit and vegetable farmers, with a little help from U.S. university students

The Horticulture Innovation Lab has awarded 15 new Trellis Fund grants to organizations in Africa and Asia, matching these new projects to 16 graduate students who will provide agriculture expertise requested by the organizations.

Young woman teaching about pineapples in classroom full of farmers.

Video: UC Davis student connects with Ugandan farmers over pineapple postharvest practices

Sometimes it helps to reconnect with what motivates your work. For Karin Albornoz, Ph.D. student, that means getting out of the lab and working with small-scale farmers to improve postharvest handling practices.