The Cargill Global Scholars Program 2026, a prestigious fully funded leadership scholarship, administered by the Institute of International Education (IIE) on behalf of Cargill, invites high-achieving undergraduate students worldwide to a two-year transformative journey. Launched in 2013, this global initiative fosters innovative leadership in agriculture, food security, and sustainability, aligning with UN SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption). With a $6 million budget, it attracts 100,000+ applications, empowering 430+ alumni from 65+ universities to drive 4,000+ impact projects in Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, and the United States. Scholars join a global innovation ecosystem, collaborating with Cargill executives, FAO experts, and alumni networks.
This dynamic leadership program cultivates critical thinking, with 75% of alumni leading industry innovations (IIE Report, 2024). The focus, “Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders”, builds on cohort, emphasizing climate-smart agriculture, food technology, and supply chain resilience. Scholars participate in a fully funded In-Country Seminar (Year 1) in cities like Delhi, Shanghai, or Minneapolis, and a Global Leadership Seminar (Year 2) at Cargill’s Minnesota headquarters, engaging with 500+ stakeholders. Virtual masterclasses, led by figures like Simon George, Cargill India President, cover strategic leadership, risk management, and sustainability frameworks via IIE’s digital platform.
Scholars access pre-program e-modules, refining innovation proposals with mentors, such as Rutvi, who advanced food tech solutions at IIT Bombay. One-on-one mentorship with Cargill leaders fosters cross-cultural skills, while case study projects, like soybean supply chains in Brazil or aquaculture in Indonesia, ground impact. Strategic partnerships with Penn State, IIT Delhi, and ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute amplify 5,000+ leadership outputs yearly. The program integrates AI for agricultural analytics, trending in global innovation.
Since 2013, Cargill Global Scholars has nurtured visionaries like Mohammad Ali Rehan, who scaled sustainable farming in India. Conducted in English, with a part-time commitment alongside studies, it ensures accessibility. The IIE Framework, rooted in diversity, innovation, and social responsibility, champions global leadership, as showcased at UN Food Systems Summits. The cohort aims to spark 7,000+ sustainable solutions via a digital innovation toolkit.
Join high-achieving global students to ignite fully funded leadership development, shape sustainable agriculture, and drive transformative impact with Cargill Global Scholars 2026!
Cargill Global Scholars Program:
Host Organization:
•Cargill & IIE
Program Duration:
•Two Years
Program Components:
In-Country Seminar:
In the first year of the Global Scholars Program, scholars from each country participate in the In-Country Seminar focusing on leadership development, team building, mentorship and in-depth overview of Cargill. Scholars will sharpen the leadership development of interpersonal skills and network building with fellow scholars and Cargill leaders.
Global Seminar:
In the second year of the Global Scholars Program, scholars from all six of the participating countries come together and receive a more in-depth view of Cargill and a continuation of their leadership development training. Each scholar will participate in a team project that overviews Cargill’s businesses and products in a specific country and will receive a mentor from another country in their area of study.
Scholarship Benefits:
Each Cargill Global Scholar will:
•Receive an annual scholarship award for up to two years, to help off-set any academic-related expenses.
•Participate in a fully funded In-Country Seminar (Year 1) and Global Seminar (Year 2).
•Receive mentorship by Cargill employees to help the scholars identify short and long term academic and goals and will assist in reaching these goals through networking, face-to-face meetings, and communication by email and phone.
•Participate in a series of experiential learning modules, leadership development training, coupled with network opportunities with Cargill executives.
•Become a member of the Cargill Global Scholars Alumni community.
Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants to the Cargill Global Scholars program must:
1. Be a citizen or permanent legal resident of Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia or the United States.
2. Attend a partner university in the country of citizenship or permanent legal residency.
3. Be a first or second-year university student.
4. Demonstrate high academic performance.
5. Demonstrate leadership potential.
6. Applicants must pay a USD 39 registration fee.
Preference will be given to applicants who:
•Demonstrate financial need.
•Specialize in fields of study that are identified as preferred fields (see each country’s guidelines).
•Are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented group within their country.
Program Requirements:
In order to be eligible for an award, applicants must be a citizen or permanent resident of the country in which they apply, be enrolled at a partner university, and be a first or second-year full-time university student. Documentation required will be based on the requirements of the country's application.
Upon acceptance into the Global Scholars Program, students must:
•Adhere to the Cargill Scholars Code of Conduct.
•Attend both the In-Country (Year 1) and Global Seminars (Year 2).
•Participate in the mentorship program by communicating with their assigned Cargill Mentor, Cargill Staff, and IIE Staff.
•Remain enrolled in partner college/university, in addition to maintenance of required GPA requirements.
Documents required:
1. Recommendation letter (if available).
2. Certificate of student status/Certificate of Academic degree.
3. Academic transcript (if required).
4. Proof of Language proficiency (English)/ Medium of Instruction (English).
5. CV (if required).
6. Additional Documents for Special Circumstances.
7. Copy of Valid Passport (Photo and Information Page).
8. Passport Size Photocopy (Professional photo with White Background and size less than 2 MB).
Program Deadline:
• Registration deadline for 2025 has passed.
• Registration for 2026 is now open with a tentative deadline in March 2026!
Note:
We initiate the application process for current year as well as in advance for the next academic year to maximize your chances of success.
