Highlights of Faculty Projects

This page presents highlights of faculty research and outreach/extension activities which may be of interest to prospective graduate students. More comprehensive information about faculty activities can be found on the department's main research and extension/outreach Web pages.

Major Departmental Research Projects (funding of $100,000 or more)

International:

• Bean/Cowpea Collaborative Research Support Project (CRSP), Latin America and Caribbean Regional Activity. Project leaders: R. Bernsten and S. Swinton. Funded by USAID. Studies supported by the project focus on three themes: (1) constraints to expanding bean supply in Central America, (2) enhancement of the sustainability of bean production systems through technology and policies that improve management, and (3) enhancement of the demand and market opportunities for beans and value-added bean products from Central America and the U.S. Currently, fieldwork (GIS-based analysis of bean production systems) is being conducted in Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Nicaragua, the U.S., and the Central American region.
• Food Security III Cooperative Agreement. Project Co-Directors: E. Crawford and D. Boughton. Other U.S.-based faculty include J. Staatz, M. Weber, C. Donovan, T. S. Jayne, V. Kelly, S. Loveridge, and D. Tschirley (complete list). Core on-campus research plus in-country activities in Africa focusing on technology, policy, and institutional innovations for improving agricultural productivity, marketing, and incomes. Funded by USAID. Sub-project or country-level activities include:
  • Policy analysis for the USAID/Africa Bureau, Office of Strategic Development
  • Food security and food policy information portal for Africa
  • Effects of Prime-Age Adult Mortality on Rural Households in Africa
  • Increasing the Impact of the Research of INSAH and Its West African Partners (J. Staatz, V. Kelly, M. Weber)
  • Project to Mobilize Food Security Initiatives in Mali (PROMISAM) (J. Staatz, N. Dembélé, V. Kelly)
  • Strengthening Mozambique's Capacity for Agricultural Policy Analysis, Productivity, Growth and Poverty Reduction (D. Boughton, T. Walker and others)
  • Zambia Food Security Research Project (T. S. Jayne, project leader, and M. Weber)
  • Highlights of FS-III project activities including support for the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa
  • Recently completed FS II/III projects include Mali Agricultural Growth and Nutrition Linkages, Mali Market Information, Mozambique Research and Policy Support, and the Rwanda Food Security Research Project.
• Mozambique Sustainable Nutrition Improvement Project. Project leaders: D. Tschirley, and M. Weber. Funded by IFPRI, the Rockefeller Foundation, the International Potato Center (CIP), and the Micronutrient Initiative. Action research to determine whether a food-based intervention strategy can lead to sustainable, year-round intake of vitamin-A rich foods, reduced fluctuations in seasonal household calorie supply, and an overall improvement of diet diversity, nutritional status and diet quality in a cost-effective manner, particularly among children under five years of age.
• Partnerships for Food Industry Development: Fruits and Vegetables. Interim Project Director: H. Gow. Other faculty: J. Hoehn, T. Reardon, D. Weatherspoon, D. Clay (Institute of International Agriculture), L. Busch (Sociology), J. Kerr (CARRS). Funded by USAID. Objectives are to improve linkages involving agribusinesses in developed and developing countries, provide training and technical support, promote smallholder production and marketing, and improve quality and safety of fruits and vegetables for consumers. Principal sub-project or country-level activities include:
  • Country projects in Ghana, Guatemala, Nicaragua, South Africa, and India
  • Regional projects in Central America and Southern Africa
  • Collaborative Fruit and Vegetable Industry Development
• The Rise of Supermarkets, Private Standards, and the Capacity of Producers to Respond. Project leaders: D. Clay (Institute of International Agriculture), T. Reardon, D. Weatherspoon. Subcontract with Development Alternatives, Inc.
• Strengthening the Capacities of Faculties of Agriculture in East Africa to Contribute to Smallholder Agricultural Production. Project leaders: E. Crawford. Subcontract with Ohio State University; funded by USAID through ALO.
• Supermarkets and Agricultural Development in Mexico. Project leader: T. Reardon. Funded by USDA.
• TEGEMEO Agricultural Monitoring and Policy Analysis Project (TAMPA II), Egerton University (Kenya) and MSU. Project leaders: T. S. Jayne, E. Crawford. Funded by USAID/Kenya. Focus on food crop production and marketing, input supply, land constraints, and agricultural/health linkages.
• TEGEMEO Agricultural Monitoring and Policy Analysis Project (TAMPA II), NGO Project, Egerton University (Kenya) and MSU. Project leaders: D. Tschirley, E. Crawford. Funded by USAID/Kenya.
• Toward Improved Maize Marketing and Trade Policies to Promote Household Food Security in Southern Africa. Project leaders: T. S. Jayne, A. A. Schmid. Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
• Zambia Market Access, Trade and Enabling Policies (MATEP) Program. Project leaders: T. S. Jayne, M. Weber. Funded by USAID through Development Alternatives, Inc.

Domestic:

Firm-level Commercial Agriculture

• Adjusted Gross Revenue Continued Development. Project leader. J. R. Black (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA/Risk Management Agency.
• Bioeconomics of Managing Multi-Host Diseases (2006-09).  Co-principal investigators Richard Horan and Christopher Wolf, cooperative agreement funded by the Economic Research Service, USDA.
• Bioeconomics of Managing Pathogens in Multi-Host, Livestock-Wildlife Systems (2006-09).  Co-principal investigators Richard Horan and Christopher Wolf, National Research Initiative Competitive Grants Program, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
• Enhancing Management and Profitability of Small and Mid-Sized Dairy Farms. Project leaders: J. Pursley, M. Vandeharr, G. Smith, M. Weber Nielsen (Animal Science) and C. Wolf (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA.
• Ethanol or Conservation? Designing and Pricing Conservation Contracts with Real Options.  Project leader: Z. Guan.  Funded by IRGP-MSU.
• Improving the Utility of Regional Climate Change Information from a Stakeholder Perspective. Project leaders: J. Andresen (Geography), J. R. Black (Ag. Econ.), D. Holecek (CARRS), J. Winkler (Geography). Funded by EPA.
• Michigan Johnes Disease Control Program. Project leaders: J. Kaneene, D. Grooms (Large Animal Clinical Science), C. Wolf (Ag. Econ.), S. Bolin, C. Bolin (Diagnostic Center for Animal Health). Funded by USDA.
• Re-integrating Crop and Livestock Enterprises in Three Northern States. Project leaders: S. Snapp (Horticulture), J. R. Black (Ag. Econ.).
• Soybean Aphid in the North Central U.S.: Implementing IPM at the Landscape Scale. Project leaders: D. Landis, C. DiFonzo, M. Brewer (Entomology), S. Swinton (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA.
  

Agri-food Industry Economics and Management

• Decision Support Tools for Managing of Multiple-Year Risk on Farms Producing Perennial Crops. Project leader: S. Thornsbury (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA/Risk Management Agency.
• The Great Lakes Agriculture Innovation Demonstration Program. Project leader: C. Peterson (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA/RBS. (See Product Center.)
• NIRT: Building Capacity for Social and Ethical Research and Education in Agrifood Nanotechnology. Project leaders: L. Busch (Sociology), T. Dietz (ESPP), K. David (Anthropology), P. Thompson (Ag. Econ.), J. Lloyd (Mechanical Engineering), and L. Bourquin (Food Science & Human Nutrition).
• Reduced Risk Pest Management Systems for U.S. Tart Cherry Production. Project leaders: M. Whalon, L. Gut, G. Bird (Entomology), G. Sundin (Plant Pathology), J. Flore (Horticulture), S. Thornsbury (Ag. Econ.). Funded by USDA.
• Research Evaluations of and Outreach for Methyl Bromide Alternatives in Conifer Seedlings and Herbaceous Perennials. Project leaders: D. Brown-Rytlewski, M. Brewer (Entomology), B. Zandstra (Horticulture), S. Thornsbury (Ag. Econ.), W. Kirk (Plant Pathology), and T. Dudek (MSUE). Funded by USDA.
• Third Party Certification in Food and Agriculture: A Study in Values and Science. Project leaders: L. Busch (Sociology), J. Stone (Libraries), A. Rudy (Sociology), P. Thompson (Ag. Econ.), and J. Bingen (CARRS). Funded by NSF.
  

Environmental and Resource Economics

• Integrating Ecology and Economics for Managed Forest Landscapes. Project leaders: J. Liu (Forestry), F. Lupi (Ag. Econ.), M. Walters (Forestry).
• Long-term Ecological Research in Row-Crop Agriculture. Project leaders: G. P. Robertson (Crop and Soil Sciences), S. Gage, D. Landis (Entomology), T. Schmidt (Micro and Molecular Genetics), S. Swinton (Ag. Econ.), S. Hamilton, K. Gross (Kellogg Biological Station).
• Partnerships for Food Industry Development--Fruits and Vegetables (Nicaragua). Project leaders: D. Clay (Institute of International Development), D. Weatherspoon, J. Hoehn (Ag. Econ.). [See above under International.]
• Restoring Great Lakes Basin Waters Through the Use of Conservation Credits and a Water Balance Analysis. Project leaders: J. Bartholic (Crop and Soil Sciences, S. Batie, A. Adelaja (Ag. Econ.), W. Northcott (Biosystems and Ag. Engineering), J. Andresen (Geography), S. Li (Civil and Environmental Engineering), M. Kaplowitz (CARRS).
• The Stability of Values for Ecosystem Services: Tools for Evaluating the Potential for Benefit Transfers. Project leaders: J. Hoehn (Ag. Econ.), M. Kaplowitz (CARRS), F. Lupi (Ag. Econ.). Funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  

Regional Development

• Improvement of Rural Communities Through Farm and Ranch Diversification and Rural Tourism. Project leader: E. Mahoney (CARRS) and C. Peterson (Ag. Econ.). Funded by Texas Department of Agriculture.
• Michigan Metropolitan Initiative: A Project of the Michigan Metropolitan Consortium. Project leaders: A. Adelaja (Ag. Econ.), W. Rustem (Public Sector Consultants).
• People and Land Cluster, Phase 3. Project leader: A. Adelaja (Ag. Econ.).
• Research and Outreach to Support Short-Term Policy Innovation and Development in Michigan. Project leader: A. Adelaja (Ag. Econ.).

Other Research Initiatives

• Complete listing of environmental economics research activities.
• The Elton R. Smith Endowment in Food and Agricultural Policy. Project Leader: Elton R. Smith Professor Sandra S. Batie. Research focuses on policy issues concerning the 2002 Farm Bill, commodity programs, agricultural trade, agricultural conservation, agriculture-environment links, biotech and the environment, food safety, corporate environmental management, and the changing structure of agriculture.
• Land Policy Institute . Program Director: John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor Adesoji Adelaja. Program provides leadership and coordination for land use and land policy activities at MSU. Research focuses on identifying effective science-based solutions for land use and policy problems, with the goal of promoting the sustainable development of Michigan's land resources through the simultaneous consideration of economic, social, environmental and equity issues.

Major Departmental Extension/Outreach Projects

• Adjusted Gross Revenue Pilot Crop Insurance Program for Specialty Crops. Project leader. J. Roy Black. This is an innovative whole-farm insurance program developed with the USDA Risk Management Agency. The program provides protection against low farm revenues due to unavoidable causes.
• Community & Economic Development. Department partcipants include E. Scorsone, M. Skidmore, S. Loveridge, C. Moser, and P. Norris.
• The Elton R. Smith Endowment in Food and Agricultural Policy. Project Leader: Elton R. Smith Professor Sandra S. Batie. A wide range of extension/outreach activities linked to the research program.
• Environmental Economics. Many faculty members and topics ranging from pollution impact control, management of natural resources, and valuation of Great Lakes environmental benefits.
• Farm Management and Marketing. Many faculty members. Activities include the TELFARM farm accounting and financial planning program, workshops on farm financial performance, income taxes, and risk management, and dissemination of market price forecasts.
• Land Use and Land Policy:
  • Land Policy Institute . Program Director: John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor Adesoji Adelaja. A wide range of extension/outreach activities linked to the research program.
  • Land Use Team . Members from the Dept. of Ag. Econ. include A. Adelaja, S. Loveridge, and P. Norris.
• MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Center Director: Professor Chris Peterson, Nowlin Chair of Consumer-Responsive Agriculture. The Product Center's mission is to improve economic opportunities in the Michigan agriculture, food and natural resource sectors by assisting new or established entrepreneurs to develop and commercialize high-value, consumer-responsive products.
• State and Local Government. Project Leader: Eric Scorsone, Mark Skidmore. Education, research and technical assistance to state and local governments related to administration, public finance, economic analysis, alternative institutional analysis for service delivery, newly elected local official training, and new state legislator training.

File updated June 17, 2009