Marty Matlock

Marty Matlock is a Professor in the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Arkansas, College of Engineering. He served as Senior Advisor to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack at USDA from 2021-2022 focusing on food systems resiliency and was Executive Director of the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center. Matlock was elected to the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine's Board of Agricultural and Natural Resources in 2021.

• B.S., Soil Chemistry, Oklahoma State University
• M.S., Plant Physiology, Oklahoma State University
• Ph.D., Biosystems Engineering, Oklahoma State University

Dr. Matlock's research focuses on the impacts of humans on the environment at the watershed scale, with expertise in sustainability metrics for water, land, energy, and climate change for agricultural systems. He is a global leader in crop and animal production modeling and life cycle assessment, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions. His work spans ecological engineering, food systems resiliency, and environmental risk assessment, with applications in designing sustainable global food supply systems and developing corporate strategies for risk reduction.

Analysis of Matlock's recent publications reveals a strong focus on life cycle assessment (LCA) of agricultural systems, particularly food supply chains. His work spans dairy production, fruit and vegetable systems, pulse crops, and livestock feed. A consistent theme is developing methodologies for spatially explicit LCA and creating metrics for sustainability in agriculture. His research increasingly addresses climate change adaptation in food systems and the development of regenerative agricultural practices.

• 2023 Fellow, The American Society of Civil Engineers
• 2022 Odom Award for Ecosystem Design
• 2018 CAST-Borlaug Agriculture Communications Award
• Multiple design awards for sustainable community planning
• ASABE Standards Development Award for ANSI/ASABE S629

Matlock has advised more than 40 M.S. and a dozen Ph.D. students over his 25-year career. His research has been supported through numerous grants from USDA, National Academies, and industry partners including The Sustainability Consortium and Field to Market Alliance. He has held leadership positions as Executive Director of the UA Resiliency Center (2018-2021) and UA Office for Sustainability (2012-2018), where he managed significant research initiatives focused on food, water, and community resiliency in response to climate change.

Matlock leads research teams working on life cycle assessment of agricultural systems through collaborations with The Sustainability Consortium, Field to Market Alliance, UN Food and Agriculture Organization, and multiple US food and ag industries. His work with the UA Community Design Center has produced innovative approaches to urban watershed management and community food systems, including the Whitmore Community Food Hub Complex and Conway Urban Watershed Framework Plan.