Melinda Smale
Publications on Google Scholar
Dr. Melinda Smale joined the Food Security Group in 2011 as a fixed-term Professor of International Development, working intensively with research partners in Kenya, Zambia, Mali and Burkina Faso. From 2002, at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Bioversity International, she led a global research program about the economics of crop genetic resources. The team studied biotech crops, genebanks, on-farm crop diversity, local seed markets, and underutilized crops in numerous countries, including Mali, Uganda, India, Nepal, Bolivia, Colombia and the Philippines. While living in Malawi and later in Mexico (1989-2000), she analyzed the adoption and impacts of improved wheat and maize seed for the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). During the 1980s, Melinda worked in Pakistan, Somalia, Mauritania and Niger on shorter-term assignments. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, has received awards for outstanding articles and has served on the editorial committees of several journals.
Professional Interests
- Adoption and impact processes for seed, including biotechnology, and improved crop management practices, including practices to rehabilitate soil fertility and moisture
- Analysis of farm productivity
- Crop biodiversity, on-farm and ex situ conservation of crop genetic resources
- Formal and informal seed systems
The welfare effects of crop biodiversity as an adaptation to climate shocks in Kenya
Published on February 25, 2021
What Do you Mean by “Informed Consent"? Ethics in Economic Development Research
Published on February 25, 2021
The welfare effects of crop biodiversity as an adaptation to climate shocks in Kenya
Published on August 3, 2020
Transferring diversity of goat grass to farmers’ fields through the development of synthetic hexaploid wheat
Published on June 18, 2020
Economic Incentives to Use Fertilizer on Maize Under Differing Agro-ecological Conditions in Burkina Faso
Published on September 15, 2018