Submit your application by 31rst May 2025
FarmTree is a start-up service provider specialising in forecasting the impact of diverse agricultural systems through our in-house developed tool and model, the FarmTree Tool. This tool has been used to project land use performance and conduct ex-ante impact assessments for multiple world-renowned organisations across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. These projections support farmers and their partners in making informed, sustainable land-use decisions.
The FarmTree Tool is a online model that can forecast economic, environmental and social impact of agricultural scenarios. Some indicators calculated by the tool includes yields, revenues, costs, labour, water and nutrient balances, carbon sequestration, and more. By combining site-specific soil and climate data with tree and crop characteristics and farm-level information, the tool creates a "Plot Scenario" that projects long-term performance. These projections help compare current conventional farming practices with alternative investment options, such as agroforestry systems.
Through this, FarmTree contributes to the realisation of Sustainable Development Goals i.e., no poverty, biodiversity, climate action, and gender equity.
The position
FarmTree is looking for an intern to assess and enhance the soil erosion modeling component of the FarmTree Tool. This role involves reviewing relevant soil erosion models in the literature, evaluating the current model within the Tool, and providing recommendations for improvements. The intern will work closely with the R&D Team, which will support the integration of model enhancements.
FarmTree offers a collaborative, dynamic, and supportive working environment, with room for individual initiative and professional growth. Interns will receive guidance from an internal expert and have opportunities to engage with external stakeholders.
Your Qualities
You love playing with numbers for real-life decision support. You are eager to bring in your expertise and professional networks.
Activities
The internship activities would include:
1. Identify and briefly compare relevant soil erosion models.
2. Analyse the current soil erosion component of the FarmTree Tool, identifying strengths and limitations.
3. Develop and propose recommendations to improve the erosion model, considering its integration with other components of the tool, its accuracy, usability, and data availability.
4. Collaborate with the R&D team to discuss and support the integration of proposed improvements (incl. testing the improved model by validating it against case studies or existing datasets).
5. Participate in internal R&D meetings on company and tool development.
6. Engage in external meetings with clients and stakeholders, including tool demonstrations and discussions on potential assignments.
Must Have
- MSc or BSc in agronomy, soil science, forestry, system modelling, or comparable
- In-depth knowledge/experience of modelling (either built, calibrated or evaluated models before)
- Basic knowledge on soil erosion
- Regular presence in our Wageningen office (3-4 days a week)
- Fluent in oral and written English
Nice to have
- Access to soil, climate, plant etc databases and know-how how to retrieve data
- Working knowledge of database setup and management (SQL or other)
- Know-how of quantitative methods, calibration algorithms, etc.
- Working knowledge of Spanish, French, Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Arabic, or another working language in a target area
- Field experience in Agroforestry, smallholder farming
What We Offer
At FarmTree you will be warmly welcomed in an enthusiastic, diverse and fast-growing international team.
Our job offer includes the following:
Business for development
Capture knowledge for practical use
Personal growth
We welcome co-enterpreneurs
Team
Bring ideas, we love it!
Network
Companies, organisations, knowledge institutes
