The Basics

 Hey there! 

My name is Olivia Marti and I recently graduated from Waukon High School in Waukon, IA. I will be attending Iowa State University this fall to Major in Agricultural Business, Agronomy, Seed Science, and International Agriculture. With my two-year Associative Arts degree from Northeast Iowa Community College, I am fortunate enough to enter as a junior this fall! This education and experience is what also pushed me to pursue agri-science. 

In my freshman year of high school I began research on animal muscle tissue and how it can be repaired detached from the living organism. The next year as a sophomore, I spent the year abroad in Germany where I was able to learn the German language and conduct research on soil additives and SPAs. In my junior year of high school, I turned my focus towards hydroponic and aeroponic crop production systems and their influence in solving world hunger. And finally in my senior year of high school, I began conducting research on algae-based biofuels. 

Thanks to these experiences, I was able to apply to do an internship through the World Food Prize. I was selected for an interview and asked to rank my preference of where I would like to study. A born and raised Iowan farm girl, naturally I chose CIMMYT! I have always had a passion for agronomy, seed science, and seed conservation, all things that CIMMYT focusses on. To make this decision even easier, Norman E Borlaug established this building and location. 

Norman E Borlaug was an Iowa Native and grew up only 25 minutes from my house. I had grown up with his as my role model, especially as a small town girl that wanted to make an impact in agriscience. After finding out that I was selected to intern at CIMMYT, I was more than excited. I had an opportunity to better my skills in a language that I had spent four years studying while learning about seed science and agriscience in general from specialists. I came to CIMMYT on June 21st of 2024 and will leave on August 13th of 2024. 

I will be posting blogs weekly to update you guys on what I learn and what I do while I'm here. I'm so excited to get a better understanding of seed science and develop my skills as an agronomist!












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