Agri-food Research
Our agri-food research focuses on advancing sustainable agricultural practices and improving food security, safety, and transparency. Through this work, we aim to inform policy development, enhance industry practices, and promote a more resilient and informed agri-food system.
2024
Shaming, stringency, and shirking: Evidence from food-safety inspections {Link}
This paper examines the responses of chicken producers to public disclosure by USDA of quality information (or categorization) regarding Salmonella in chicken carcasses.
Salmonella in poultry in the United States has an economic cost of up to $3.65 billion per year. Understanding how producers respond to publication of negative (or positive) information about food safety should help to inform the design of better food-safety regulations and policies.
Producers exert effort to attain better categorization and shirk when failing to meet the thresholds required for better categorization. Public disclosure reduces this shirking effect. However, some producers shirk even under public disclosure when the threshold for disclosure is too stringent.
Dohlman, E., K. Maguire, W.V. Davis, M. Husby, J. Bovay, C. Weber, and Y. Lee
The report analyzes trends in the market for controlled environment agriculture and agrivoltaics systems using data from USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service reports and the U.S. Department of Energy.
Public and private investments in alternative food production systems, such as controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and agrivoltaics (AV), have increased in recent years.
CEA systems have been highlighted for their potential to improve access to local foods in urban areas and help with adaptation to and mitigation of climate change. AV may allow for expanded solar development to address climate change without land use conflicts associated with traditional large-scale solar developments.
Demystifying Food Labels for Meat and Poultry Products Part II: Labels for Specific Products {Link}
Neill, C., T. Qi, and J. Bovay
These reports help improve buyer understanding of retail meat and poultry labels using text and infographics.
For producers and consumers alike, the meaning behind the labels found on meat and poultry products may be confusing.
Consumers will know more about the products at the grocery store after reading these reports.
Demystifying Food Labels for Meat and Poultry Products Part I: Overview {Link}
Neill, C., T. Qi, and J. Bovay
These reports help improve buyer understanding of retail meat and poultry labels using text and infographics.
For producers and consumers alike, the meaning behind the labels found on meat and poultry products may be confusing.
Consumers will know more about the products at the grocery store after reading these reports.