About EARTH
History
EARTH University is a global institution that offers a rigorous four-year undergraduate program in Agricultural Sciences, led by an international faculty that provides an education with solid scientific and technical foundations, with an emphasis on ethical values, entrepreneurship, and environmental and social commitment.
EARTH was established by Costa Rican law in 1986 as a private, non-profit, international university and created with the support of the Costa Rican government, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
It was created so that young people from developing regions can become ethical leaders and agents of social and environmental change. The University seeks students with high potential to transform the world.
Mission
Vision
Values
Human development
Sustainable development
The search for knowledge
Academic excellence
Social consciousness
Biodiversity conservation
Ethical behavior
The EARTH University Foundation was created to support the institution’s educational vision through the capture of generous gifts from the global community and other programs and initiatives. It is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
EARTH Futures is the global solutions center of EARTH University. We work with academic institutions, rural communities, and other like-minded partners worldwide to transform rural areas. We structure our efforts around two primary pillars – Education for Leadership and Developing Solutions – focusing on Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Developing Solutions seeks to improve and transform agricultural education in Latin America and Africa, inspired by the experiences of EARTH and those of our allies, in seeking to prepare young leaders to build more sustainable food systems.
We want more young people to take ownership of the agricultural world so that they can solve global issues, such as climate change, poverty and malnutrition.
In 2021, through this pillar, we launched the Mastercard Foundation – EARTH University Fellowship Program to facilitate recent graduates’ transition into their professional careers, focused on agriculture and rural development in Africa. The Program connects Fellows with different organizations for a 12-month period, to support their professional development by opening new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.
EARTH Ventures is the business division of EARTH University. It puts into practice the University’s values, such as sustainability and social awareness. The businesses under EARTH Ventures contribute financially to the University’s annual operating budget, while its products allow thousands of people in international markets to learn about the EARTH story.
The University’s Governance Structure includes four Boards: