Michigan State's STAAARS finally visit United States (Michigan Ag Connection) 

Michigan Ag Connection published a story on the importance of mentors in agriculture research and international development fields. The Structural Transformation of African and Asian Agriculture and Rural Spaces (STAAARS+) fellows visited the MSU campus and participated in training interactions and met with mentors. One mentor, Rui Benfica, grew up in a developing country and eventually became a senior research fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). “Being able now to pass knowledge on to a new generation has been quite remarkable. We’re contributing to making it possible for them to walk the pathways [of international development] themselves,” said Benfica.