Thematic Areas
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems
The department focuses on agribusiness, food security, and health through research that is locally relevant and globally impactful. Utilizing tools like market analysis and resource optimization, researchers explore pathways to balance food production with environmental conservation. This research supports urban and suburban agricultural extensions, empowering communities to adopt sustainable farming practices and innovative food distribution networks.
Research and Scholarship
Student Experiences
Community Engagement
Health and Wellness
An emerging research area for this department, the health and wellness nexus bridges agriculture, food systems, and resource economics. This area focuses on data-driven surveillance and analysis of One Health (ecosystem and human) impacts arising from food insecurity, climate change, and poverty. Research also addresses health disparities stemming from the marginalization of communities locally and globally, with an emphasis on creating equitable and sustainable solutions.
Research and Scholarship
- Prof. Yanhong Jin published "Weighing down the future: long-term effects of childhood obesity on intergenerational mobility" in the Journal of Population Economics (Feb. 2026). This paper was picked up by over a dozen new media outlets, including the U.S. News & World Report, the Wall Street Journal, and Business News This Week.
- Prof. Yanhong Jin and Prof. James Oehmke have been awarded an iPHD project on Socio-Economic Determinants of NJ Maternal Health (2026-27).
- Prof. James Oehmke has been awarded an iPHD project on New Jersey Contagion Response, and mentored an M.B.S. statistical practicum on this topic in Spring 2026.
- Prof. Yanhong in. Prof. Y Jin et al. Bringing Behavioral Change Education to Life: Incorporating Healthy Eating into College Classroom Teaching
Student Experience
- Prof. Isaac Vellangany participated in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning program supported but the Institute for Teaching, Innovation, and Inclusive Pedagogy. Supported by the Director of the Rutgers Wellness Collaborative this enabled him to restructure 11:373:353 Personal Finance to include Financial Wellness, one of the eight dimensions of Wellness at Rutgers.
- Prof. Yanhong Jin revised the course 11:373:371 Food, Nutrition, and Health to include more emphasis on wellness.
- Prof. Yanhong and co-authors published Bringing Behavioral Change Education to Life: Incorporating Healthy Eating into College Classroom Teaching in Applied Economics Education & Extension 6(2024):2, online
International Agricultural Development
To address global disparities in agricultural resources and economic opportunities, the department prioritizes international development with a focus on rural areas. Research in this domain seeks to enhance agricultural productivity in underdeveloped regions while promoting socioeconomic equity. Partnerships with global organizations, including NGOs and development agencies, enable faculty researchers to study and implement strategies that uplift rural communities through sustainable farming practices, technology transfer, and capacity-building initiatives.
Research and Scholarship
- Prof. Ramu Govindasamy and coauthors published the paper “Product Attributes and Consumer Preference as Determinants of Willingness to Pay for Nutritionally Enriched Eggs. J. Management Science Research Review 2026 5(1): 836-859
Teaching
- Prof. Sanjib Bhuyan worked with two teams of Aresty students on barriers to investment in India and Bangladesh.
- Prof. Sanjib Bhuyan is hosting two 3-week study abroad courses on Tea Production and Marketing in India.
Community Engagement
- Dr. Sonal Pandey served as a Roundtable Expert for the 2026 World Food Prize Foundation–New Jersey Youth Institute, contributing expertise to support youth engagement in global food security and sustainability issues.
- Prof. Yanhong Jin supported the New Jersey Youth Institute by serving as faculty advisor for two students, as a Roundtable Judge. Prof. Jin in 2025 was also faculty advisor for East Brunswick’s Alison Huang, who was one of only two $1,000 prize winners in the World Food Prize Foundation’s 2025 Global Challenge.
Circular Bioeconomy
By integrating bioeconomy and circular economy principles into their research, faculty members in this department emphasize systems where biological resources are reused and recycled, reducing waste and environmental impacts. Through close collaboration with scientists and engineers, researchers explore innovative economic models that align with sustainability goals, including bio-based product development and renewable resource management. This research offers a forward-looking alternative to traditional environmental economics, focusing on comprehensive and integrative solutions to global ecological challenges.
Research and Scholarship
FARE host an annual Circular Bioeconomy conference in December, 2025. Please check the events page for updates.
Community Engagement
- Prof. Serpil Guran is creating a Guidance Document for New Jersey Counties to Achieve Successful Food Waste Reduction, sponsored by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.
- Dr. Sonal Pandey served as a Roundtable Expert for the 2026 World Food Prize Foundation–New Jersey Youth Institute, contributing expertise to support youth engagement in global food security and sustainability issues.
- Prof. Ramu Govindasamy gave two invited presentations for the Office of Continuing and Professional Education on recycling systems and recycling economics (March 2026).
- Prof. Serpil Guran hosts the New Jersey Composting Council’s annual Organic Waste Management Summit at Rutgers’ Cook Campus in October. Both Prof. Guran and Prof. Oehmke were speakers at the 2025 event.
Student Experience
- Prof. Yanhong Jin and Prof. Daphne Monroe (Marine and Coastal Science) developed a Byrne Seminar "The Blue Bioeconomy: Aquaculture, Innovation, and Sustainability" for Fall 2026 that includes a field trip to Rutgers' Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory.
- Prof. Serpil Guran has created a Circular Supply Chain course debuting in AY26-27. Check the course listings for more information.
Data Analytics and Modeling
Researchers in this department leverage data analytics and advanced modeling techniques to address complex challenges in agricultural, environmental, and economic systems. This research theme relies on predictive analytics, simulation models, artificial intelligence, and econometric techniques to analyze market dynamics, resource allocation, and policy impacts. These tools improve decision-making processes and support actionable strategies for both public and private stakeholders.
Research and Scholarship
- Dr. Sonal Pandey, Prof. Ramu Govindasamy, and Prof. Isaac Vellangany published the paper 'Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Personalized Learning and Student Success: Evidence from Economics Education’, in the Eurasian Journal of Agricultural Economics (2026, 6(1):61-76)
Student Experience
- Prof. Elise Yu developed two new machine learning courses, restructuring 11:373:256 Data Analytics to Business and Economics to include a significant machine learning component, and introducing a new 11:373:408 course in Fall 2026 Applied Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Environmental and Business Economics.
- Dr. Sonal Pandey received recognition badge for teaching excellence-GenAI Milestone Achieved! from Institute for Teaching, Innovation, & Inclusive Pedagogy, Rutgers University-New Brunswick (1/2026).
Community Engagement
- Prof. Seowoo Lee served as moderator at the panel discussion ‘AI Tools for Agriculture’, jointly organized by Rutgers, Rowan University, and Camden Community College
Economic Justice and Resource Allocation
Faculty employ quantitative tools to analyze issues such as income inequality, access to sustainable employment, and the distributional impacts of environmental policies. This research integrates economic principles with actionable policy recommendations to ensure marginalized communities benefit from advancements in sustainability and resource management. This theme aligns closely with other areas, such as international development, sustainability, and health/wellness, delivering comprehensive and equitable solutions. Rather than being a separate area of focus, economic justice and resource allocation is a foundational principle that conditions everything we do in the department, including our research and scholarship, student experiences, and community engagement.
As a highlight for Academic Year 2026-27, check out our new curricular path for the Agricultural Business and Food Systems major with the Health Equity minor. Contact Professor Ethan.Schoolman@rutgers.edu or Professor Erin.Comollo@rutgers.edu for more information.