Carl Pray, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics.
At the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA), scholars, colleagues and friends came together to celebrate the establishment of the Dr. Carl Pray Appreciation Club in recognition of the outstanding scholarly contributions, mentorship and international leadership of Carl Pray, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics (DAFRE) at Rutgers. His colleague, Yanhong Jin, professor in DAFRE, accepted this recognition on behalf of Pray during the annual conference held from July 27-29 in Denver, CO.
DAFRE faculty SeoWoo Lee, James Oehmke and Yanhong Jin at the AAEA Annual Meeting.
A faculty member at Rutgers since 1986, Pray has made pathbreaking contributions to the study of agricultural science and technology policy, with a global focus on Asia, Africa and Latin America. He earned his doctoral degree in Economic History from the University of Pennsylvania and has published more than 100 articles in leading journals, such as Science, Nature, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, Economic Development and Cultural Change and Research Policy.
Beyond his prolific research in an almost 40-year career at Rutgers, Pray has been a global thought leader and institution builder. He served as President of the International Consortium for Applied Bioeconomy Research (ICABR) for 14 years and continues to serve on its board. His collaborative work across continents has shaped agricultural innovation policy and empowered generations of researchers and policymakers in the Global South.
The club will serve as a platform to celebrate Pray’s legacy, promote continued scholarship in agricultural science and technology policy, and encourage the next generation of international researchers.
In the words of one charter member, “Carl has not only shaped the field, he has shaped people—his generosity, humility, and quiet leadership are as impactful as his academic work.”
Several DAFRE faculty members were actively engaged in the 2025 AAEA Annual Meeting, including James Oehmke, department chair and professor, who participated in the Chair’s section, the Africa section, and the Agribusiness section as well as several other sessions.
DAFRE faculty at the 2025 AAEA Annual Meeting.
Yanhong Jin, professor, served as a panelist in a well-attended pre-conference workshop titled, “The New Economics of Food Security and Nutrition.” In addition, six of her coauthored papers were presented at the conference.
Seowoo Lee attended the Extension Section Meeting and connected with extension professionals across the country as she prepares for her new role as an Extension Specialist in Farm Viability.
Sanjib Bhuyan, professor of agricultural economics and marketing, attended the pre-conference AAEA Teaching Academy workshop organized by the award-winning teaching faculty. This is a one-year academy and there will be follow-up tasks for all attendees. The focus of this year’s workshop was on teaching scholarship and the target audience was early-career faculty, however, there was lessons for all.
Faculty involvement reflects the department’s ongoing commitment to cutting-edge research and active engagement in professional communities. DAFRE is proud to celebrate the achievements of its faculty, students and distinguished alumni at AAEA and beyond.
DAFRE faculty and attendees at the 2025 AAEA Annual Meeting.
