Ruerd Ruben

Professor Ruerd Ruben is an external academic expert in Development Economics with over 300 research outputs spanning food systems, smallholder livelihoods, and rural poverty alleviation. His work focuses on value chain transformation, nutrition, and sustainable agricultural practices in Africa, Latin America, and Asia.

• Research Pillars:
  • Food systems optimization
  • Smallholder economic empowerment
  • Value chain governance
  • Sustainable diets and nutrition
  • Rural development strategies

Ruben's recent publications examine midstream actors in informal economies (2025), market-based poverty reduction (2024), and fair trade limitations (2023). His editorial work includes contributions to Food Security journal, and he has supervised 19 PhD projects on topics ranging from Ethiopian potato chains to climate-resilient East African agribusinesses.

• Scientific Leadership:
  • Contributed to 300+ academic works
  • Received 7 Scopus citations for key publications
  • Active in global food systems discourse