Kurt Waldman, Assistant Professor

My passion for research at the intersection of food, agriculture, and the environment is shaped by growing up on a small farm, serving as a US Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, and working on various farms including a creamery in the Swiss Alps. Previous experience working in international development includes Catholic Relief Services (Baltimore HQ and various locations in Afghanistan), collaborating with the Food and Agriculture Organization in Afghanistan, and as a short term consultant at the World Bank. I have a MS in Applied Economics from Cornell and a PhD in Sustainability from Michigan State.

 

Jordan Blekking, Post Doc

My interest in studying food security and food systems stem from my time serving as a US Peace Corps Volunteer in Zambia from 2012 to 2015. As a volunteer I worked with smallholder farmers on a number of agro-forestry, aquaculture, and appropriate technology projects, like the bicycle plow (nkinga lukasu). Many of the farmers I worked with struggled to access seed and fertilizer inputs due to cost, distance, and availability. When I came to graduate school at IU studying access was forefront in my mind. I use geospatial and statistical analysis methods to understand how food security is related to the physical and financial access of households across the rural to urban spectrum. I earned my PhD from Indiana University in 2022. Find Jordan's CV here.

 

Daniel Fobi, PhD Student

I am interested in food and agriculture in urban Africa. The growing food insecurity issues that have led to hikes in food prices, poor health, short life expectancy and political instability, among others propel my passion to understand how farmers can increase food production sustainably but also how urban dwellers, especially the poor can afford fresh food and vegetables.