John Saunders

Dr. John Saunders serves as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Global Value Chains and Trade at Lincoln University, New Zealand. His expertise lies at the intersection of agricultural economics, trade modeling, and climate impact assessment, with significant contributions to both academic research and policy development.

His research focuses on developing and applying advanced modeling techniques for forecasting agricultural production and markets. Key areas include:

• Agricultural trade modeling using partial equilibrium approaches
• Bio-physical and bio-security impact assessments
• Climate change adaptation and policy analysis
• Consumer behavior and market preference studies

Saunders has established himself as a leading expert through his commissioned work for the OECD Trade and Agriculture Directorate, where he developed a high-impact model for long-term agricultural challenges assessment. His methodological approach combines Visual Basic for Applications with the General Algebraic Modelling System to create sophisticated economic tools that inform policy decisions.

His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions across agricultural economics, with recent work focusing on carbon neutrality valuation, extreme weather impacts on agriculture, and digital transformation in agrifood value chains. The research shows a clear trajectory toward addressing contemporary challenges in sustainable agricultural production and trade.

Saunders maintains active professional engagement as an Office Holder of the New Zealand Association of Economists and serves as a Technical Advisor to the OECD Agricultural Outlook program, demonstrating his influence in shaping agricultural policy at both national and international levels.