Research

The internationally recognized faculty in the Morrison School of Management and Agribusiness investigates current important business, consumer and public policy topics such as consumer behavior and marketing strategies in food markets, supply-chain management, derivatives and risk management, and international agricultural trade and policy. The following are the current active sponsored projects and creative activities.

 

Title Investigators Project Period Sponsoring Agency Project Summary
Collaborative Project with Tecnologico de Monterrey-Sinaloa Manfredo, Mark and Bravo, Jesus 01-May-2008 to 31-Aug-2009 Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey The objective of these workshops is to provide growers business strategy. This should enable business practitioners to improve their management practices. It should also assist the faculty of Tecnologico de Monterrey, Campus Sinaloa in their efforts to establish an undergraduate program in agribusiness.
Community Food Connections, Micro Business Consulting and Technical Services Scott, Winifred; Hughner, Renee and Forsyth, David 28-Sept-2008 to 28-Feb-2009 Community Food Connections n/a
Commodity Inflation, Food Prices and Marketing Margins Richards, Timothy and Pofahl, Geoffrey 20-Sept-2008 to 31-Oct-2009 USDA- Economic Research Service

The primary objective of the proposed research is to determine the impact of commodity price inflation on food prices, consumer demand and marketing margins in three important food categories: fluid milk, fresh produce and ready-to-eat cereal.
Food Service Demand and Obesity Richards, Timothy and Nganje, William 28-Sep-2007 to 30-Sep-2009 USDA- Economic Research Service The expected outcomes are a full set of demand elasticities for key macronutrients (fat, carbohydrate, protein) and meal attributes (calories, sodium, saturated fat), demand elasticities with respect to health attributes, output response elasticities for health outcomes, simulated welfare impacts of nutrient taxes, quantity restrictions and health status improvements.
Identification of the Attributes of an Effective, Private-Sector Funded, State-Branding Program: The Case of Arizona Grown Hughner, Renee Shaw and Nganje, William 01-Nov-2007 to 31-Aug-2009 Arizona Department of Agriculture The components of the project are the compilation of a comprehensive summary of the nation’s current state-branding programs, the identification of the attributes which increase consumers’ willingness to pay a premium for state-branded products – with emphasis on producer and value added processing attributes; and the development of targeted spending recommendations to align marketing of the Arizona brand and premium potentials.

Intelligent Food Defense Systems for International Supply Chains: The Case of Mexican Fresh Produce to the U.S.

 Nganje, William; Richards, Timothy; Villalobos, Rene and Runger, George 01-Jul-2008 to 30-Jun-2009 U. S. Department of Homeland Security Identify a mechanism to prevent unsafe cargo passing through ports of entry (POE) at the U.S.-Mexico border and develop better tracking and accountability systems. Goal is to plan an information environment that will be the backbone of a smart inspection framework. The researchers also are working with CAADES, a major stakeholder in the Mexican fruit and vegetable sector, and other Mexican institutions to address issues related to intelligent food systems.
International Agribusiness Fellows Program: Master's Studies in Agribusiness and Agricultural Trade Policy Patterson, Paul; Richards, Tim; Schmitz, Troy; Seperich, George; and Shultz, Clifford 15-Nov-2006 to 14-Nov-2011 USDA- Cooperative State Research, Education & Extension Service The project will provide opportunities for up to five National Needs Fellows to participate in an international study program funded through additional support provided by the International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowance at one of several institutions with whom the Morrison School has ongoing collaborative arrangements.
Market-Based Instruments for the Optimal Control of Invasive Insect Species: B. Tabaci in Arizona Richards, Timothy 29-Sept-2008 to 31-Oct-2009 USDA-ERS-Economics of Invasive Species Management Project will compare mechanisms, such as Pigouvian taxes, marketable invasion permits, and performance bonds, to encourage integrated pest management in the event of an invasion of pesticide-resistant whitefly on Arizona cotton. The researchers will use an optimal control framework to compare spatio-temporal pest dispersion paths under each mechanism to a socially optimal path. They will estimate relationships between infestations, crop yield and quality, and control costs to achieve a population level below acceptable injury levels, using data collected by University of Arizona entomologists.
National Food & Agricultural Policy Project Phase Kagan, Albert 01-Jul-2008 to 30-Jun-2009 University of Missouri

Designed to help meet the increasingly critical information needs of policy makers and the public by supplying timely research and analysis of the implications of proposed policy changes and market developments.
Organizational Management and Leadership Course Redesign Hutt, Roger and Bravo, Jesus 15-Jul-2007 to 30-Jun-2009 Arizona Board of Regents The project addresses the redesign initiative for Organizational Management and Leadership – MGT 300. The redesign of MGT 300 will allow the Morrison School to enhance student-learning while accommodating an increasing number of students and without additional costs (or with cost savings).
Southwest Cooperative & Producer Development Project Thor, Eric; Edwards, Mark; Schmitz, Troy 01-Oct-2008 to 31-Dec-2009 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, Business and Cooperative Programs

Purpose of the project is to provide technical and management expertise and technological assistance to rural businesses and cooperatives of the Southwest through vehicles that are both efficient and affordable.
State of Arizona Agriculture Mediation Program FY08 Thor, Eric 01-Oct-2008 to 30-Sept-2009 USDA-U.S. Department of Agriculture

Establishing and administering mediation programs and services for agricultural producers, creditors of producers (as applicable), and persons directly affected by actions of the Department of Agriculture.

Tech Prep Education Seperich, George 01-Jul-2004 to 30-Jul-2009 Valley Academy for Career and Technology Education The project will assist in the effectiveness and level of implementation of work-based learning opportunities and the Secrets of Educations Speaking programs (Secrets) across the 11 Tech Prep consortia in implementing additional work-based learning and Secrets opportunities.

Valuation of New Products in the Face of Consumer Income Disparity

 Pofahl, Geoffrey and Richards, Timothy 24-Nov-2008 to 31-Oct-2010 USDA- Economic Research Service

The goal of this project is to estimate consumer and producer welfare effects of new food product introductions and to determine whether such effects vary depending on the income classification of the customer base to which the product is introduced.

Vulnerability Assessment and Reduction of Economic Impact for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry: A Food Defense Assessment for Border Communities

 Nganje, William; Acharya, Ram; Bravo, Jesus; Edwards, Mark; and Kagan, Albert 01-Sep-2007 and 31-May-2009 University of Minnesota The project will promote free and secure trade by using common risk management principles, supply chain security, industry partnerships and advanced technology to improve the efficiency of screening and clearing commercial traffic at U.S. borders.

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Faculty and
Research