Every three years, the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) holds its flagship conference, the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE). Bringing together hundreds of agricultural economists from around the world as well as others concerned with agricultural economic problems, the conference is organized to foster the application of agricultural economics to improve rural economic and social conditions. The 2024 conference was held August 2-7 in New Delhi, India on the theme “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems.” 

Ten MRR-affiliated researchers presented at ICAE 2024, many sharing their MRR-funded work. Among them were four researchers under the ALL-IN initiative, who shared research they are conducting in their home African country. Below, several ALL-in researchers share their key takeaways, followed by a full list of MRR-affiliated researcher presentations.  

ALL-IN researchers reflect on ICAE 2024

Dorica Singini, Malawi: “Presenting to such a diverse and esteemed audience was both exhilarating and immensely rewarding. One of my most significant takeaways from the conference was the exposure to new and advanced econometric models, as well as novel approaches in agri-food systems research. The sessions on ethical research practices and the utilization of satellite data in agricultural economics were particularly eye-opening. These insights have equipped me with the tools to design and implement research projects with greater precision and impact.”  

Khadijat Amolegbe, Nigeria: “I received valuable feedback on my ongoing research through one-on-one interactions with senior colleagues and during my presentation. The event served as a call to action for economists, especially young economists, to investigate new areas of research and explore policy-relevant topics. I enjoyed attending the pre-conference event, SPIAFest, where I had the opportunity to listen to discussions about the long-term effects of agricultural innovations and the various strategies needed to address key policy questions in agriculture.” 

 

John Olwande, Kenya: “I observed that ICAE participants did not constitute only agricultural economists but professionals from a range of disciplines, including economics, agronomy, soil science, and information technology, collaborating in research in agriculture. This indicates that problems in agriculture are complex and, therefore, interdisciplinary collaboration in searching for sustainable solutions is inevitable. The teams implementing the ALL-IN projects reflect this realization!”

ICAE 2024 presentations of MRR-affiliated researchers

Khadijat Amolegbe, University of Ilorin, Nigeria 

• Digital Technology Ability and Farmers’ E-Commerce Valuation in Nigeria

Chris Barrett, Cornell University 

• The Role of Insurance and Financial Innovation in the Small Farm Sector: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
• Assessing the Impacts of International Agricultural Research: New Methods, Rigorous Evidence, Better Decisions
• Fostering Healthy, Equitable, Resilient, and Sustainable Agri-Food Value Chains
• Perspectives and Practices in Ethical Research

Michael Carter, University of California, Davis

• More Than Insurance: The Dynamics of Blending Indexed Financial Tools to Enhance the Adoption of Income-Enhancing Agricultural Technologies
• The Role of Insurance and Financial Innovation in the Small Farm Sector: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go
   

Fred Dzanku, Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) at the University of Ghana

• The Impact of Reducing Credit and Marketing Constraints on Shea Production and Poverty Among Women
   

John Hoddinott, Cornell University

• Resilience of Agrifood Value Chains in a Multi-Shock Era: Metrics, Analyses and Actions
   

Travis Lybbert, University of California, Davis 

• Assessing the Impacts of International Agricultural Research: New Methods, Rigorous Evidence, Better Decisions 
• Bundling Genetic and Financial Technologies for More Resilient and Productive Small-Scale Agriculture
• The More We Know, the Less We Know? the Evolution of Knowledge Gaps on Measurement Error in Farm Household Survey Data

Hope Michelson, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• The More We Know, the Less We Know? The Evolution of Knowledge Gaps on Measurement Error in Farm Household Survey Data
• Transforming Africa and Asia’s Wholesale Markets and Wholesalers
• Cultivating Success: Innovative Approaches to Enhance Improved Varietal Adoption By Small Farmers
• Agronomy 4.0? Taking Stock of the Evidence on Impacts and Scaling Prospects of Digital Agronomy Tools in Developing Countries
   

John Olwande, Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development, Egerton University 

• Soil Testing for Better Soil Management Decisions on Smallholder Farms in Kenya
   

Dorica Singini, Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources 

• Adoption and Willingness to Pay for Digitized Extension Advisory and Marketing Services Among Low-Income Smallholder Farmers in Malawi
   

Hyuk Harry Son, Utrecht University School of Economics

• Do No Harm? the Welfare Consequences of Behavioural Interventions to Promote the Uptake of Index Insurance