Cynthia Donovan

Cynthia Donovan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics at Michigan State University (MSU), affiliated with the College of Agriculture & Natural Resources. She holds a Ph.D. from MSU, an M.S. from the University of Minnesota, and a B.A. from Swarthmore College. As Deputy Director of the Feed the Future Legume Systems Research Innovation Lab, she leads a $13.6M multidisciplinary research portfolio focused on legume systems in Africa and Latin America. Her work emphasizes sustainable agriculture, smallholder market integration, and policy impact analysis.

Donovan has over four decades of experience in international agricultural development, including roles at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the United Nations FAO. Her research spans Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, and Angola, with a focus on legume value chains, food security, and the intersection of agriculture and nutrition. She has designed and analyzed large-scale surveys on rural livelihoods, market dynamics, and policy impacts.

Key contributions include evaluating Title II food aid programs, analyzing cassava commercialization in Mozambique, and assessing conservation agriculture adoption. Her work integrates systems approaches, pairing U.S. researchers with local scientists to address regional challenges. Donovan also received a knighthood from Burkina Faso (2022) for her contributions to agricultural development.

Current initiatives include managing USAID-funded legume research projects and advising on strategic investments in African food systems. Her research frequently addresses adult mortality impacts on households and the role of legumes in sustainable diets, advocating for policies that enhance both producer and consumer well-being.