Erik Lichtenberg

Erik Lichtenberg is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maryland, College Park, affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His research addresses economic aspects of agriculture-environment interactions, including agri-environmental programs, invasive species management, pesticide regulation, and resource conservation. He holds a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Chicago (1973) and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from UC Berkeley (1985).

Research Focus

Lichtenberg's work integrates environmental and agricultural economics with policy analysis. Key domains include:

• Design of Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs and conservation contracts
• Economic incentives for pollution control and resource conservation
• Risk management in agricultural systems (pests, pesticides, climate)
• Food safety regulation compliance and collective action
• Impacts of irrigation technology and land use policies

Professional Recognition

• Fellow, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA)
• Awards from AAEA, University of Helsinki, University of Maryland, and academic journals
• Former co-editor, American Journal of Agricultural Economics
• National Academy of Sciences panelist: GMO crops, precision agriculture, pesticide policy

Active Research Projects

• PES Program Design: Optimization of penalties/targeting in conservation contracts; stated preference analysis for buffer adoption
• Invasive Species Economics: Risk-based inspection protocols for international trade; pest introduction cost-benefit analysis
• Pollination Systems: Economic-ecological modeling of wild/managed pollinators; landscape effects on crop yields