Case Summary:

“By establishing the value of performer switchgrass, [the client] has helped to alleviate the issue of forage shortages in this important American industry. His recommendations provide American livestock farmers with flexibility in switchgrass forage, enabling them to harvest with optimal productivity or optimal quality and digestibility as needed. As a solution to the issue of forage shortages, [the client’s] recommendations for best crop management practices also alleviate revenue loss for the American livestock farmer. [The client’s] work contributes significantly to the stability of America’s most important agricultural industry.”

“His work is greatly advancing environmentally friendly agricultural practices and improving both the environmental and economic sustainability of U.S. agriculture. As a vital contributor to one of the United States’ most important industries, [the client] and his research are major assets to the U.S. national interest.”

These statements are testimonials of the expertise of our EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver) client from Nigeria. His work in agricultural science has been praised by experts and institutions equally. Holding a Ph.D. in agronomy, he is a postdoctoral associate who is working on enhancing land management practices and methodologies using sustainable agricultural and resource management techniques to improve agricultural environmental sustainability.

It is clear that his work is of great importance because it addresses issues that are critical to reducing the climate crisis while improving agricultural productivity. He is conducting cutting-edge research to enhance conservation agricultural practices. He is thus generating valuable insights into agricultural practices that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and maximize crop productivity, which is enabling improved decision-making for producers, farmers, policymakers, and other relevant stakeholders. As such, he is contributing significantly to enhancing agricultural sustainability and climate resiliency.

More specifically, his proposed endeavor also has broad implications for the United States since according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, agriculture accounted for an estimated 11.2 percent of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. Due to this clear national importance, his research has been supported by funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

He has also been regularly invited to conduct peer reviews for authoritative journals in the field, due to his knowledge and expertise in soil health, cropping systems, and water management. He has thus completed 7 reviews to date. Additionally, his research has resulted in 6 peer-reviewed journal articles (four of them first-authored) and these publications have been cited a total of 14 times, according to Google Scholar.

We also asked him to gather 4 letters of recommendation so that his petition would be more substantiated. This helped a great deal in moving his application along. Finally, we added that he has pursued research directly related to his proposed endeavor of enhancing land management practices and methodologies for 7 years which has equipped him with every necessary skill to continue working here in the U.S.

Thus, when his approval came through, we were proud of having assisted him all along. We thank him for choosing our firm and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.