Lena Kuhn

Lena Kuhn is a senior researcher at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transformation Economies (IAMO) in Halle, Germany, where she works as a Research Associate in the Department of Agricultural Markets, Marketing and World Agricultural Trade. She leads the China International Research Group and coordinates the thematic complex on Livelihoods and Migration at IAMO.

Her research centers on sustainable agricultural and rural development, with a strong emphasis on risk management, innovation adoption, digitalization, and experimental economics. Her regional expertise spans China and Central Asia, where she investigates climate resilience, agricultural insurance, food security, and the socioeconomic impacts of digital technologies in agriculture.

The recent body of her work demonstrates a clear trend toward integrating remote sensing, machine learning, and experimental methods to assess agricultural productivity, evaluate index insurance programs, and understand behavioral responses to climate risks. Her publications frequently appear in high-impact journals in agricultural economics, environmental science, and development studies.

• Senior Researcher, IAMO
• Coordinator, China International Research Group
• Coordinator, Thematic Complex 'Livelihoods and Migration'

Dr. Kuhn has contributed to numerous policy briefs and research projects, including KlimALEZ, DETECCT, DITAC, and SARICCA, which aim to strengthen climate resilience and support evidence-based policymaking in transformation economies.

She actively presents her research at major international conferences such as the International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE), Agricultural Economics Society (AES) meetings, and IAMO Forum. Her collaborative work involves extensive partnerships with researchers across Central Asia, China, and Europe.

Her laboratory and team affiliations are centered around IAMO’s research groups focusing on agricultural markets and transformation economies, particularly through the KlimALEZ project team and the China research cluster.