My research project took me to the outskirts of a small town—Texcoco, Mexico—where the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) is located. CIMMYT is an international non-profit organization focused on improving global food security through agricultural research and the development of high-yielding, resilient maize and wheat varieties, as well as sustainable management practices for these crops. Another pillar of CIMMYT’s mission is extension work, where the organization collaborates closely with farmers worldwide through a multitude of annual projects.

One of these extension projects, led by Dr. Simon Fonteyne, required an environmental assessment—and this is where I came into the picture. The project aimed to advise farmers on using insecticides that are less harmful to the environment. For over a decade, they have been phasing out some harmful chemicals while promoting more sustainable alternatives. Over this period, a vast dataset of around 70,000 entries had been collected, which awaited assessment to determine whether the project was successfully reducing the environmental footprint of pest control measures.

Processing the database took considerable time and effort due to the sheer volume of data and the inconsistency in how the information had been reported. After managing this challenge, I needed characterization factors to calculate the environmental footprint of the insecticides used in the project. To achieve this, I worked with USEtox, an internationally standardized model that calculates the freshwater ecotoxicity of various chemicals. Since only two-thirds of the active ingredients used in the project were included in USEtox’s database, I calculated the missing characterization factors for 13 substances. With these factors in hand, I was able to determine which chemicals contributed most to environmental harm, as well as analyze the trends over the years. This allowed us to make informed recommendations on which chemicals should be used to minimize ecological impact.

As part of this assessment, I was given the opportunity to travel to Mexico for six weeks to meet Dr. Fonteyne and his collaborators in person, and to learn more about this and other projects he supervises. During my stay, I toured the surrounding states and visited research sites that focused on conservation agriculture in various climates and ecosystems. Thanks to Dr. Fonteyne, I learned how an international research organization like CIMMYT makes a real difference by disseminating its findings to farmers and communities worldwide.

One of the most rewarding parts of my experience was forming friendships with fellow student researchers at CIMMYT. My stay gave my confidence and motivation to pursue further research in the field of international development. I am deeply grateful to UC Davis and the Jastro Shields Award for making this opportunity possible—it was a valuable learning experience that greatly boosted my confidence in my research abilities. I also want to extend my sincere thanks to Dr. Fonteyne, Dr. Pittelkow, and Dr. Nichols, for their guidance and support, which made both my time at UC Davis and my stay in Mexico truly unforgettable. Go Aggies!