Jeffrey Alwang

Jeffrey Alwang is a Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at Virginia Tech, affiliated with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He joined the department in 1989 and has been a leading scholar in development economics, focusing on poverty reduction, agricultural technology impact assessments, and rural development strategies across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Education:

• Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Cornell University (1989)
• M.S. in Agricultural Economics, Pennsylvania State University (1985)
• B.A. in Political Science, Pennsylvania State University (1978)

Research Interests: Alwang’s work emphasizes policies to reduce rural poverty, assess impacts of agricultural technologies, and strengthen value chains in developing countries. Key areas include climate resilience, food security, and the integration of smallholder farmers into modern markets. His recent projects analyze cacao value chains in Ecuador, conservation agriculture in the Andes, and the socio-economic impacts of agricultural innovations in Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and China.

Recent Research Trends: His articles address topics like value-added certification in livestock markets, nitrogen management in corn systems, and intergenerational support in rural China. They reflect a focus on bridging theoretical economic analysis with applied development challenges.

Awards:

• Virginia Tech Policy Research Fellow (2022)
• CALS Excellence in Applied Research Award (2021)
• Lifetime Achievement Award from Ecuador’s INIAP (2019)
• World Bank SPOT Award (2005) and numerous other recognitions

Advising & Grants: Alwang has advised over 70 graduate students, many of whom now hold academic and policy roles globally. His grants support fieldwork in Ecuador, Zimbabwe, and other regions, emphasizing experiential learning for students through research internships and international collaborations.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Ecuador-based undergraduate research program, integrating coursework with six-week field internships. Collaborates with institutions like the International Potato Center (CIP) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) on applied development projects.