Recent Publications

• (August 2025) Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States
  Authors: Sanaz Chamanara, Dimitrios Gounaridis, Benjamin Goldstein and Joshua P. Newell Abstract Animal Feeding Operations or AFOs, such as beef feedlots, dairy farms, and hog farms, are associated with elevated levels of harmful fine particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5). The geographic distribution of… Read more: (August 2025) Geography of animal feeding operations and their contribution to fine particulate matter pollution in vulnerable communities in the United States
• (May 2025) Greenhouse gas emissions of tomato production and supply: A systematic review
  Authors: Zhu Zhu and Shelie A Miller Highlights Abstract Numerous life cycle assessments (LCA) have been performed on tomato production; however, results vary greatly due to different system boundaries and assumptions, tomato production methods, and geography. This study seeks to identify the… Read more: (May 2025) Greenhouse gas emissions of tomato production and supply: A systematic review
• (April 2025) Cover crop functional trait plasticity in response to soil conditions and interspecific interactions
  Authors: Etienne Sutton, Sieglinde Snapp, Vicki Morrone and Jennifer Blesh Abstract Background and aims Cover crops support ecosystem services in agroecosystems, but their performance can be highly variable. Functional trait ecology provides a useful framework for understanding variation in cover… Read more: (April 2025) Cover crop functional trait plasticity in response to soil conditions and interspecific interactions
• (April 2025) Adapting anti-tobacco messages to ultraprocessed foods: message framing’s impact on attitudes toward the food industry
  Authors: Kathleen E. Good, Lindsey Parnarouskis, Jenna R. Cummings, and Ashley N. Gearhardt Abstract Objective Ultraprocessed food consumption is associated with worse health. Ultraprocessed food companies apply production and advertising tactics used for tobacco products. Anti-tobacco campaigns that have highlighted… Read more: (April 2025) Adapting anti-tobacco messages to ultraprocessed foods: message framing’s impact on attitudes toward the food industry
• (May 2025) “It makes you feel worthless.” The Lived Experience of Discrimination in the US Food Assistance System
  Authors: Sarah J. Blau, Alison Tovar, Deborah N. Pearlman, Heidi M. Weeks, Jeneen Ali, and Katherine W. Bauer Highlights Abstract This study examined the lived experience of judgment, mistreatment, and fear related to federal food assistance programs and the emergency… Read more: (May 2025) “It makes you feel worthless.” The Lived Experience of Discrimination in the US Food Assistance System
• (February 2025) Strategic planning could reduce farm-scale mariculture impacts on marine biodiversity while expanding seafood production
  Authors: Deqiang Ma, Benjamin S. Halpern, Briana Abrahms, Jacob Allgeier, Jorge García Molinos, Christopher M. Free, Melanie Frazier, Kristin Kaschner, Brian C. Weeks and Neil H. Carter Abstract Mariculture is one of the fastest growing global markets. Although it has… Read more: (February 2025) Strategic planning could reduce farm-scale mariculture impacts on marine biodiversity while expanding seafood production
• (February 2025) Experiences of women farmworkers in Michigan: Perspectives from the Michigan Farmworker Project
  Authors: Alexis J. Handal, Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios, Mislael A. Valentín-Cortés, and Marie S. O’Neill Highlights Abstract Agricultural work presents significant physical and social challenges globally and in the United States, with women farmworkers facing unique risks that remain underexplored. This study… Read more: (February 2025) Experiences of women farmworkers in Michigan: Perspectives from the Michigan Farmworker Project
• (November 2024) Herbicidal interference: glyphosate drives both the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions
  Authors: Grace M. Zhang and Regina S. Baucom Abstract The coevolution of plants and their insect herbivores reflects eco-evolutionary dynamics at work – ecological interactions influence adaptive traits, which feed back to shape the broader ecological community. However, novel anthropogenic… Read more: (November 2024) Herbicidal interference: glyphosate drives both the ecology and evolution of plant-herbivore interactions
• (May 2024) Momentum for agroecology in the USA
  Authors: Theresa W. Ong, Antonio Roman-Alcalá, Estelí Jiménez-Soto, Erin Jackson, Ivette Perfecto and Hannah Duff Abstract Despite decades of resistance in the USA, agroecology is gaining momentum as a catalyst for food systems transformation, calling for coordinated action between science,… Read more: (May 2024) Momentum for agroecology in the USA
• (May 2024) Grocery Delivery to Support Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Pilot Quality Improvement Program
  Authors: Lauren Oshman, Marika Waselewski, Rina Hisamatsu, Noa Kim, Larrea Young, Dina Hafez Griauzde, and Tammy Chang Abstract Background People with low income are disproportionately affected by type 2 diabetes (T2D), and 17.6% of US adults with T2D experience food… Read more: (May 2024) Grocery Delivery to Support Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: Protocol for a Pilot Quality Improvement Program
• (April 2024) Joint environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture
  Authors: Laura Vang Rasmussen, Ingo Grass, Zia Mehrabi, Olivia M. Smith, Rachel Bezner-Kerr, Jennifer Blesh, Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi, Marney E. Isaac, Christina M. Kennedy, Hannah Wittman, Péter Batáry, Damayanti Buchori, Rolando Cerda, Julián Chará, David W. Crowder, Kevin Darras, Kathryn… Read more: (April 2024) Joint environmental and social benefits from diversified agriculture
• (April 2024) Financial incentive programs and farm diversification with cover crops: assessing opportunities and challenges
  Authors: Alison Surdoval, Meha Jain, Erica Blair, Haoyu Wang and Jennifer Blesh Abstract Farmers in the Great Lakes region of the U.S. face tremendous pressure to reduce nutrient losses from agriculture. Increasing crop rotation diversity with overwintering cover crops can support ecological processes that maintain… Read more: (April 2024) Financial incentive programs and farm diversification with cover crops: assessing opportunities and challenges
• (January 2024) Comparing the carbon footprints of urban and conventional agriculture
  Authors: Jason K. Hawes, Benjamin P. Goldstein, Joshua P. Newell, Erica Dorr, Silvio Caputo, Runrid Fox-Kämper, Baptiste Grard, Rositsa T. Ilieva, Agnès Fargue-Lelièvre, Lidia Poniży, Victoria Schoen, Kathrin Specht and Nevin Cohen Abstract Urban agriculture (UA) is a widely proposed… Read more: (January 2024) Comparing the carbon footprints of urban and conventional agriculture
• (January 2024) Competitive Foods’ Nutritional Quality and Compliance with Smart Snacks Standards: An Analysis of a National Sample of U.S. Middle and High Schools
  Authors: Juliana F. W. Cohen, Ashley Kesack, Tara P. Daly, Sara A. Elnakib, Erin Hager, Samuel Hahn, Daniel Hamlin, Alla Hill, Annie Lehmann, Peter Lurie, Meghan Maroney, Jaydn Means, Megan P. Mueller, Deborah A. Olarte, Michele Polacsek, Marlene B. Schwartz,… Read more: (January 2024) Competitive Foods’ Nutritional Quality and Compliance with Smart Snacks Standards: An Analysis of a National Sample of U.S. Middle and High Schools
• (December 2023) Persistent and Changing Food Insecurity Among Students at a Midwestern University is Associated With Behavioral and Mental Health Outcomes
  Authors: Melissa J Slotnick, Saba Ansari, Lindsey Parnarouskis, Ashley N Gearhardt, Julia A Wolfson, and Cindy W Leung Abstract Purpose: To assess associations between persistent and changing food insecurity and behavioral and mental health outcomes in college students. Design: Online… Read more: (December 2023) Persistent and Changing Food Insecurity Among Students at a Midwestern University is Associated With Behavioral and Mental Health Outcomes
• (December 2023) Assessing food systems funders’ use of data and evidence to make funding decisions
  Authors: Lesli Hoey, Lilly Fink Shapiro, Catherine Diggs, Duncan Hilchey, Kim Hines, and Fally Masambuka-Kanchewa Abstract Although academic journals are often considered to be reliable sources of evidence for informing practice, the extent to which funders turn to them to… Read more: (December 2023) Assessing food systems funders’ use of data and evidence to make funding decisions
• (April 2023) Power asymmetries in supply chains and implications for environmental governance: a study of the beef industry
  Authors: Sanaz Chamanara, Benjamin P. Goldstein, and Joshua P. Newell Overview Purpose Supply chain governance constitutes the rules, structures and institutions that guide supply chains toward various objectives, including environmental sustainability. Previous studies have provided insight into the relationship between… Read more: (April 2023) Power asymmetries in supply chains and implications for environmental governance: a study of the beef industry
• (December 2023) Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural residue burning have increased by 75% since 2011 across India
  Authors: Monish Vijay Deshpande, Nitish Kumar, Dhanyalekshmi Pillai, Vijesh V. Krishna, and Meha Jain Highlights Abstract Quantifying crop residue burning across India is imperative, owing to its adverse impacts on public health, the environment, and agricultural productivity. Specific information about the extent and characteristics of agricultural crop burning can verify the… Read more: (December 2023) Greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural residue burning have increased by 75% since 2011 across India
• (March 2023) Against the odds: Network and institutional pathways enabling agricultural diversification
  Jennifer Blesh, Zia Mehrabi, Hannah Wittman, Rachel Bezner Kerr, Dana James, Sidney Madsen, Olivia M. Smith, Sieglinde Snapp, Anne Elise Stratton, Mohamed Bakarr, Abram J. Bicksler, Ryan Galt, Lucas A. Garibaldi, Barbara Gemmill-Herren, Ingo Grass, Marney E. Isaac, Innocensia John,… Read more: (March 2023) Against the odds: Network and institutional pathways enabling agricultural diversification
• (December 2022) Effect of Climate Change Impact Menu Labels on Fast Food Ordering Choices Among US Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial
  Authors: Julia Wolfson, Aviva A. Musicus, Cindy W. Leung Key Points Question: What effects do positive and negative climate impact menu labels have on the environmental sustainability of adult restaurant food choices in a nationally representative sample? Findings: In this… Read more: (December 2022) Effect of Climate Change Impact Menu Labels on Fast Food Ordering Choices Among US Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial