Stefanou to Lead USDA Economic Research Service

Ernie Neff Economics

Stefanou
Spiro Stafanou

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) scientist Spiro Stefanou has been appointed as U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service (USDA/ERS) administrator. Stefanou was a professor in the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department.

The mission of USDA/ERS is to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment and rural America and to conduct high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making.

Stefanou is well-positioned to make positive impacts on the industry well into the future, said Scott Angle, UF vice president for agriculture and natural resources and head of UF/IFAS. “Dr. Stefanou is an expert in our complex modern global economy and will bring that expertise to this new assignment,” Angle said. Angle came to UF/IFAS earlier this year from the USDA, where he was director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Stefanou’s research at UF/IFAS has revolved around how businesses make decisions that impact future production possibilities. A key feature is how businesses choose to adopt effective technologies and their capabilities to extract the maximum potential from these technologies. Stefanou’s scholarship has also addressed themes of competitiveness and growth, and related policy implications.

Prior to arriving at UF in 2015, Stefanou had been a professor of agricultural economics at Penn State University since 1983.

“This is an exciting opportunity to lead the Economic Research Service as it pivots to new opportunities while meeting its mission to anticipate trends and emerging issues in agriculture, food, the environment and rural America,” Stefanou said. “ERS is internationally recognized for its high-quality, objective economic research to inform and enhance public and private decision making.”  

Source: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

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