Dan Clay

Dan Clay is a Professor and Director of Global Programs in Sustainable Agri-food Systems at Michigan State University's Department of Community Sustainability. He specializes in agricultural development, food security, and value chain analysis, with extensive experience in Africa and Southeast Asia. His work focuses on sustainable coffee and horticulture value chains, food aid impacts, and satellite-based famine early warning systems. Clay has led high-impact projects like the PEARL initiative in Rwanda and PFID-F&V programs, strengthening export markets and producer linkages.

He advises international organizations such as the World Bank and WTO on food security and agricultural policy. Notable achievements include the 2012 Michael P. Malone International Leadership Award and the 2004 Dudley Seers Memorial Prize. His research spans Rwanda, Burundi, Senegal, Vietnam, and Thailand, addressing challenges like climate adaptation, cooperative governance, and smallholder livelihoods. Domestically, he explores sports analytics, examining NCAA basketball performance factors.

• Awards: Michael P. Malone Award (2012), Dudley Seers Prize (2004)
• Key Projects: PEARL (Rwanda coffee/horticulture), PFID-F&V (global horticulture)
• Expertise: Food security policy, sustainable intensification, household surveys

Clay's international career includes roles as MSU's in-country director in Rwanda (1992–1994) and an International Technical Advisor for household surveys in Africa. His work has been featured in major media outlets like TIME and the New York Times.