Current Graduate Students
Marcus A. Coleman: Mr. Marcus A. Coleman is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Growing up in rural Louisiana, he understands what it means when all citizens do not have access to quality and affordable healthy food choices. This understanding has led to his current research interest in the area of food disparities, where he seeks to study demand for healthy food choices and the socioeconomic factors that lead to overall purchasing decisions.
Mr. Coleman also received his M.S. at Michigan State University where his thesis topic was “Carbonated Soft Drink Demand: Are New Product Introduction Strategies a Viable Approach to Industry Longevity.” The study focused on the effects of sustainable innovation and market acceptance on consumer demand in the U.S. carbonated soft drink (CSD) industry. Given the importance of the CSD industry to the retail grocery sector, he focused on the importance of new product introductions to the CSD industry.
Assa Dembélé: Ms. Assa Dembélé is a Ph.D.student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. She received her M.S. from University of Hohenheim, Germany. Her work at University of Hohenheim included sustainability in food production and consumption. Her research focused on increasing food system efficiency by reducing post harvest food losses and consumer food waste. She is interested in industrial organization and institutional and behavioral aspects of the food system.
Hikuepi Katjiuongua: Ms. Hikuepi Katjiuongua is a student in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Michigan State University. Her current research focuses on the trade policy reforms of the European Union with African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The trade policy reforms entails a transition from the historical non-reciprocal preferential market access of ACP countries into the EU market toward a new trading regime that is compatible with WTO rules (i.e. requires reciprocal free trade arrangement). Uncertainty regarding the economic effects of the proposed trading regime, called the Economic Partnership Agreements, abounds. Ms. Katjiuongua’s research focuses on the potential effects of EU trade policy reforms on Namibia’s beef sector. Namibia exports almost 50% of its beef duty free into the EU market under the beef protocol of the old trading regime. The proposed trade policy has profound implications for various actors throughout Namibia’s beef supply chain. Using primary data and secondary trade data Katjiuongua’s research will estimate the potential economic impact of EU trade policy reforms on Namibia’s beef industry.
Athur Mabiso: Mr. Athur Mabiso is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. His current research focuses on the effects of ethanol expansion on food markets and food consumption patterns in South Africa and the United States. Recent expansion of ethanol production has led to the diversion of crops traditionally for food away from food markets as they have increasingly been used as feedstock for ethanol production. This has implications for food supply chains and food markets domestically and globally. Using national data sets on food supply and demand, Athur’s research seeks to estimate the effects of these recent developments and establish resulting policy implications to inform policy at both national and global levels.
Kudzai Mukumbi: Ms. Kudzai Mukumbi is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Her current research focuses on the effects of large food retailer/manufacturers on the organic food supply chain in the United States. The increasing levels of industrialization and concentration in organic agriculture have important implications on all organic supply chain participants. This is an important issue because for many years organic food production has been associated with: small scale farmers, support for local farmers, premium prices and the highest environmental and quality standards possible. Since sustainability is a fundamental value of the organic movement; therefore the question that remains is whether or not the large agribusiness corporations will be able to uphold these values. By conducting a survey, Kudzai’s research seeks to estimate the potential benefits or costs to society of these recent developments and to inform supply chain players; farmer, environmental and policy advocacy groups of the policy implications of the increasing participation of the large retailer/manufacturers in the organic supply chain.
Thasanee Satimanon: Ms. Thasanee Satimanon is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. Her current research focuses on the effect of adopting sustainability concepts as a competitive strategy for agribusiness in the United States and OECD countries. Retailers and producers are both trying to determine what sustainability means for their food supply chains. For producers, sustainable agriculture could mean higher costs of production due to higher standards and beneficial technology investments but it could also mean increasing their market share or higher prices for unique products. Retailers may see sustainability through a competitive lens which could slow innovation in this area. By conducting both empirical and theoretical studies, Thasanee’s research seeks to estimate the potential consumers’ benefits or cost of introducing new sustainability standards and to further understanding the actions and reactions of various actors within the agricultural business sector.
Jin Shan: Ms. Jin Shan is a Master’s student in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics at Michigan State University. She received her B.S. and B.A. degree from the joint Michigan State University and Beijing Forestry University turf grass program. Jin is interested in food supply management and sustainability issues.
