Student Involvement in Research 

Our faculty members place substantial emphasis on the involvement of students in research efforts. Because of the close ties between teaching and extension faculty and the diversity of agricultural and natural resource issues, the department can offer students wide-ranging opportunities for field research and exposure to “real world” problems. Production and marketing research deals with a wide range of commodities, including irrigated field crops, livestock, and numerous fruit, nut, and vegetable crops. Research projects include analysis of futures markets, food loss from farm-gate to retail, minimum tillage systems, modeling of yields for rating crop insurance contracts, and demand for organic foods. Natural resource problems are the subject of numerous research projects, including safe drinking water, water conflicts in the West, the economics of takings, climate forecasting in Brazil, and reallocation of resources to environmental demands. The importance of international markets to Arizona farms and agribusinesses has created strong support for research in international trade and development. Recent projects include the role of non-tariff barriers in trade and the impact of exchange rates on commodity prices.

International Research Projects

International research projects have been undertaken to study poverty assessment and alleviation in Kenya, impacts of structural adjustment in Brazil, cross-border agribusiness development between Mexico and the United States, and the effects of improved infrastructure on household food security in Bangladesh. M.S. and Ph.D. candidates are often involved in field research efforts. Other opportunities for foreign research are provided by affiliations with outstanding agricultural economics programs in Italy (Portici, Naples). Finally, the Department offers students considerable exposure to pertinent research through numerous seminars offered each semester by leading researchers from domestic and foreign institutions. In addition, a department brown bag seminar series allows faculty to discuss current research projects.

Are you an undergraduate student interested in research independent study with a faculty member? Contact the faculty member of interest via email with your resume and interests, and to express interest in working with the faculty member.  

Want to earn college credit and have directed research experience with a structured program and obtain GRE test prep? Check out UROC for more information and to apply.  Connect with your agricultural and resource economics academic advisor for additional information.