How women saved agricultural economics

Abstract

Women entered agricultural economics in numbers starting in the 1980s, and their ranks are increasing over time. We make the case that women have increased the relevance in the field of agricultural economics through their diverse interests, perspectives, and experiences. We document how women have changed the profession of agricultural economics in both academia and government. In research, women have expanded the field's treatment of non-traditional topics such as food safety and nutrition and environmental and natural resource economics. In this sense, women saved the profession from a future as a specialty narrowly focused on agricultural production and markets.