Krisna Suryanata

Krisna Suryanata is a Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, where he integrates technical soil science expertise with political economy to critically analyze ecological sustainability and agrarian change. Born and raised in Indonesia, he brings cross-cultural perspectives to his examination of global commodity markets' impacts on land management and resource conflicts.

His educational background includes:

• PhD in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley (1994)
• MA in Geography from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa (1985)
• Sarjana in Soil Sciences from Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia (1978)

Suryanata's political ecology research employs multi-scale analysis to investigate environmental transformations within global political economy frameworks. His work spans Indonesia's Java uplands (examining tenure relations under global markets) and Hawai'i's post-plantation agricultural transitions, recently expanding to Indonesia's evolving agro-food systems shaped by consumer demands and capital flows. He emphasizes how historical processes and power dynamics mediate human-environment relationships, challenging productionist food paradigms through critical examinations of food democracy and socio-ethical dimensions of resource management.

Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in food sovereignty movements, molecular breeding's political economy, participatory mapping ethics, and post-plantation agricultural identity. His work consistently bridges Indonesian and Hawaiian contexts through comparative analysis of agrarian transitions, demonstrating how local practices negotiate global forces while exposing contradictions in sustainable development narratives.

Suryanata's scholarly recognition includes:

• UH Distinguished Graduate Mentoring Award (2013)
• CSS Excellence in Teaching Award (2013)

His teaching portfolio spans World Regional Geography (GEO 102), Globalization and Environment (GEO 322), and specialized graduate seminars on Environment and Development (GEO 637) and Agricultural Geography (GEO 763). As an active community engager, he leverages Fulbright fellowships to facilitate critical discussions on food systems in Indonesia, emphasizing contextual understanding to transform preconceived opinions into productive engagements. His mentoring award reflects commitment to graduate student development through rigorous research design training (GEO 696) and community-based natural resource management approaches (GEO 639).

While specific laboratory facilities aren't documented, his fieldwork in East Sumba (building local SIT capacity) and Hawai'i's agricultural landscapes demonstrates applied research partnerships. His Fulbright-supported community engagements in Indonesia exemplify his commitment to translating academic insights into practical resource management frameworks through participatory methodologies.