Centers and Programs
The department has a number of related centers, programs, and offices. These entities are used to organize and focus particular activities and provide effective linkages to programs, collaborators, and clientele.
Agribusiness, Food, & Consumer Economics Research Center
AFCERC provides analyses, strategic planning, and forecasts of the market conditions impacting domestic and global agricultural, agribusiness, and food industries. Our high-quality, objective, and timely research supports strategic decision-making at all levels of the supply chain from producers to processors, wholesalers, retailers, and consumers. An enhanced emphasis on consumer economics adds depth to our research on the behavioral and social aspects of health, nutrition, and food safety. Through our research endeavors, outreach programs, and industry collaboration, we have become a leading source of knowledge on how food reaches consumers efficiently and contributes to safe and healthy lives. AFCERC is a research and outreach service of The Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension and resides within the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.
Agricultural and Food Policy Center
The Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) conducts analyses of the impacts of government policy proposals and/or implementation procedures on farmers, agribusinesses, taxpayers, and consumers. Its primary constituency is the U.S. Congress, particularly the Agricultural Committees.
Center for North American Studies
The mission of the Center for North American Studies (CNAS) is to develop linkages among North American universities and institutions to provide training, education and conduct research in a broad range of agricultural issues. Applied research results are extended to the public through state, regional, national and international fora.
Energy
Briefing papers presenting implications of U.S. bioenergy policy are available here. Information presented in the papers is a result of a team approach between Texas A&M AgriLife and Auburn University. Paper topics range from aggregate implications down to the firm level. One set of studies address impacts of expanding first generation biofuels to 35 billion gallon on consumers and producers as well as environmental implications on soil erosion, net energy balance at a farm level as well as nationally, water use for producing corn for ethanol under irrigation, and explores some myths related to bioenergy. A second set of studies examines economic and environmental issues related to second generation biofuels, cellulosic processes, such as expected investment and operating costs of supplying a 30 million gallon per year conversion facility along with the unintended consequences of converting pasture to production of biomass crops as feedstock for energy.
Natural Resources and Environmental Economics Working Group
The primary purpose of the resources group is to develop and provide understanding of vital environmental issues. The topics of interest include economics of air pollution, global warming, land use and management, water resources, forestry, sustainability and others. The participants of the group are faculty members involved in various areas of natural resource economics as well as graduate students interested in environmental issues.
International Food and Agribusiness Management Association
The International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) brings together leaders from the business, academic, scientific, government, and not-for-profit sectors to improve the strategic focus, transparency, sustainability, and responsiveness of the global food and agribusiness system. IFAMA is a forward-looking, multi-disciplinary organization that encompasses all agribusiness-related industries and functions and spans the agribusiness chain from farm to consumer. IFAMA's vision is to be a catalyst, agenda setter, and nucleus for ideas and talent for the global food and agribusiness system.