Peters Egbedi, a Louisiana State University doctoral student in agronomy has been awarded a $2,000 LACA Scholarship in conjunction with the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association and Belchim USA.

Peters Egbedi, grew up in an agrarian community and spent his childhood alongside his parents, working the land and tending to various farm activities. During that time he experienced firsthand what great crop yield loss felt like.

Scholarship recipient Peters Egbedi. (Photo provided by Belchim USA)

Rather than let it deter him, he set out on a path to solve the problem. Egbedi first earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, then a master's degree in Environment, Health, and Safety from the University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.

Egbedi is now working on his doctorate in agronomy with a focus on cover crops and conservation tillage as sustainable crop production practices for improving soil health and crop productivity. He hopes that he can add to the goal of achieving food security in a sustainable manner through his research.

"Our industry requires ingenuity and passion; it is not an enterprise for those easily dissuaded," said Dennis Long, National Technical Service & Development Manager for Belchim USA. "For all of us here at Belchim USA, it is exciting to award this scholarship to such a mind as Mr. Egbedi's. His determination is what will deliver lasting innovation for agriculture and our world."

This is the third year in which Belchim USA and the Louisiana Agricultural Consultants Association have come together to honor students based on academic achievement, leadership qualities, and active research in row crop agriculture.

Belchim Crop Protection NV (Belchim) provides farmers crop protection products and technical support. Founded in Belgium in 1987, it is a global company, which expanded its presence into the USA in 2017.

Innovation in agriculture is a necessary component of the industry's future success, according to Belchim USA.

"It is an honor to pass the torch to other inspiring and inquiring minds," said Long "As a LACA scholarship recipient myself, I know firsthand how important such efforts are by the industry in helping to carve out a future career. I am glad we are able to take part once again in this prestigious effort."

Belchim invests in students with a passion for the ag industry and has partnered with the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, as part of the Foundation for Environmental Agriculture Education to award additional scholarships.

This was the second installment in a three-year commitment by Belchim USA to fund scholarship programs for the FEAE. For more information on the scholarship visit thefeae.org or www.laca1.org.