CORE Scholarship Fund

The CORE Scholarship Fund supported organic agricultural research at the graduate and undergraduate levels. You sponsored 5 Masters students’ agricultural research projects in Palestine, and funded the field research of selected interns. Scholarships lead to the growth of food security, economic development and environmental conservation.

THE IMPORTANCE: The agricultural sector is important in the Palestinian economy, because of its contribution to food security and creation of job opportunities. Palestinian agricultural heritage is valuable and has a deep history. However, climate change, emerging and resistant pests and diseases, and modernization have created new problems to face. Palestine lacks sound applied research, which severely limits development and wastes opportunities.

CORE'S ROLE: CORE is a national not-for-profit research center, which aims to develop the livelihood of Palestinian farming communities. CORE values their agricultural traditions while connecting them to scientific breakthroughs they have been isolated from. They use domestic, market-oriented, participatory, and applied organic agriculture research. Scholarships make a direct connection between graduate research and farming.

SCHOLARSHIPS 2016-2017:

Ahmad Omari - Biodiversity and preserving ancient olive trees in Palestine. Ahmad wrote and defended his thesis in Palestine late 2017.

Ahmad Abed - Effect of compost and compost tea on organic crops. Ahmad wrote and defended his thesis in Palestine late 2017.

Tahreer Isa - Peacock eye disease in olive trees. Tahreer has completed her Masters research thesis and defended it. Tahreer presented her research in CORE's Peacock Eye workshops campaign in spring 2017.

Leen Madi - Continuation of Peacock eye disease research. Leen wrote and defended her thesis late 2017 in Bari, Italy.

Rahmi Drubi - Supplementary irrigation of almonds. Rahmi wrote and defended her thesis late 2017 in Bari, Italy.