Harold Mathijs van Es

Harold Mathijs van Es is a Professor at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section. He specializes in soil and water management, precision agriculture, and digital ag technologies. His work includes developing the Comprehensive Assessment of Soil Health (CASH) framework and the Adapt-N nitrogen management tool. He has authored over 200 publications, co-authored Building Soils for Better Crops, and advised 50 graduate students. His research emphasizes soil health, climate resilience, and sustainable farming practices.

Van Es holds a Kandidaats from the University of Amsterdam (1981), M.S. from Iowa State University (1984), and a Ph.D. from North Carolina State University (1988). He has led administrative roles as department Chair and SSSA President, and collaborates with tech startups and global firms. His teaching includes PLSCI 3210/5210 on soil and crop management for sustainability.

Research interests span soil health assessment, precision nitrogen management, digital agriculture, and climate adaptation. Recent studies explore soil health indicators, crop rotation impacts, and machine learning in yield prediction. Awards include the 2017 PrecisionAg Researcher/Educator of the Year and a $1M Tulane Nitrogen Reduction Challenge Prize.

Van Es directs Cornell's Soil Health and Climate Resiliency Program and co-founded Adapt-N. His outreach includes the New York Soil Health Summit and the Cornell Soil Health website. He emphasizes translating science into practical tools for farmers and policymakers.