Curricular and Research Needs
The agricultural economics collection of the Michigan State University Main Library supports the curricular and research needs of the faculty, staff and students in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics (AFRE) in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR),
AFRE offers undergraduate degrees in three majors: Agribusiness Management, Environmental Economics and Management, and Food Industry Management. Minors are also offered in these areas. Master and PhD programs are available in four areas: Development Economics, Environmental and Resource Economics, Food & Agribusiness Management, and Food & Agricultural Markets.
AFRE has an outstanding international reputation that attracts funded projects from a variety of international agencies and donors such as USAID. One such program, Food Security & Food Policy Research/Outreach Programs connects to people in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali, Senegal, Malawi, Burma, Zambia and Kenya. Other programs and projects reach into Latin America, China and Africa. AFRE faculty work as individuals or in groups, e.g. the Food Security Group, to seek and implement these projects.
History of the Collection/ Existing Strengths and Emphases
Agricultural Economics were taught at MAC since the turn of the twentieth century. In 1949 the standalone Department of Agricultural Economics (AEC) was formed through the joining of faculty from the Economics Department section with those in the Farm Management Unit in the College of Agriculture. In 2008 the current name Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics (AFRE) was adopted to more accurately reflect the scope and breadth of the Department's work.
Today, AFRE emphasizes applied and disciplinary contributions especially to the economic and managerial effectiveness of firms in the food and agricultural sector, and to the sustainability of agricultural production, environmental resources, and rural communities in Michigan, nationally and abroad.
The Department has a long publishing history of books, articles, and Working Papers, irregularly issued reports analyzing domestic and international agricultural economic issues. Topic areas include agricultural economics, agribusiness, environmental economics, retail and wholesale food pricing, farmers' markets and food hubs, domestic and international food security, and international development.