Dr. Emma C. Stephens

Image Emma C. Stephens
Research Scientist

Bio-economist at the Lethbridge Research and Development Centre. 

Current research and/or projects

  • Identifying gaps in agricultural systems analysis and food security outcomes
  • Assessing farmer knowledge of beneficial insects in Alberta field crop operations
  • Using machine learning methods to model beef markets in Canada
  • Carbon capture in root crops
  • Understanding feed testing choices in Western Canadian cow-calf operations
  • Assessing the economic and climate change mitigation value of potato waste as livestock feed 

Recent Publications

Stephens, E.C., Landman, K., Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K., Alipour, D., Kiani, A., Gorzelak, M., Kröbel, R., Rahmani, E., Marami Milani, M. R. The role of livestock production in urban food systems. Forthcoming, FAO

 

Stephens, E.C., Timsina, J., Martin, G., van Wijk, M., Klerkx, L., Reidsma, P., & Snow, V. (2022). The immediate impact of the first waves of the global COVID-19 pandemic on agricultural systems worldwide: Reflections on the COVID-19 special issue for agricultural systems, Agricultural Systems, 103436, DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103436.

 

McCallum, B.D., Geddes, C.M., Chatterton, S., Peng, G., Carisse, O., Turkington, T.K., Olfert, O., Leeson, J., Sharpe, S., Stephens, E., Hervet, V., Aboukhaddour, R., & Vankosky, M. (2021). We stand on guard for thee: A brief history of pest surveillance on the Canadian Prairies.

Crop Protection vol. 149 105748. DOI:10.1016/j.cropro.2021.105748.

 

Kroebel, R., Stephens, E. C., Gorzelak, M., Thivierge, M-N., Akhter, F., Nyiraneza, J., Singer, S., Geddes, C. M., Glenn, A., Devillers, N., Alemu, A., St. Luce, M., & Giardetti, D. (2021). Making farming more sustainable by helping farmers to decide rather than telling them what to do. Environmental Resource Letters, vol. 16(5) 055033. DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/abef30.

 

Stephens, E. C. (2021). ASAS-NANP SYMPOSIUM: Review of systems thinking concepts and their potential value in animal science research, Journal of Animal Science, vol. 99(2), pages 1-7. DOI:10.1093/jas/skab021.

 

Nicholson, C. F., Stephens, E. C., Jones, A. D., Kopainsky, B., Parsons, D., Garrett, J. (2021).  Food security outcomes in agricultural systems models: Current status and recommended improvements. Agricultural Systems, 188(103028). DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103028.

 

Nicholson, C. F., Stephens, E. C., Kopainsky, B., Thornton, P., K., Jones, A. D., Parsons, D., Garrett, J. (2021). Food security outcomes in agricultural systems models: Case examples and priority information needs. Agricultural Systems, 188(103030). DOI:10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103030.

 

Nicholson, C. F., Kopainsky, B., Stephens, E. C., Parsons, D., Jones, A. D., Garrett, J. & Phillips, E. L. (2020). Conceptual frameworks linking agriculture and food security. Nature Food, vol. 1, pages 541-551. DOI:10.1038/s43016-020-00142-3

 

Stephens, E. C. (2018). Food Shortages: The Role and Limitations of Markets in Resolving Food Crises During the 2012 Famine in the Sahel. In J. Brewer, N. Fromer & F. Trentmann, (Eds.), Scales of Scarcity in the Modern World, 1800-2075. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing

Research and/or project statements

  • Estimating and characterizing economic factors in agro-ecosystems
  • Improved joint modeling of agricultural systems and food security
  • Supporting inclusion of economic forces into agro-ecosystem resilience research

Professional activities / interests

  • bio-economic modeling
  • econometric analysis
  • food security and food sovereignty
  • agricultural commodity market analysis

Education and awards

  • Ph.D. Economics, Cornell University, 2007
  • B.Sc. Physics, McGill University, 1996

International experience and/or work

  • Dissertation research in Kenya (2005-2007)
  • Peace Corps Volunteer, Cameroon (1996-1999)

Key publications

  1. Nicholson, C.F., Stephens, E.C., Kopainsky, B., Thornton, P.K., Jones, A.D., Parsons, D., Garrett, J. (2021). Food security outcomes in agricultural systems models: Case examples and priority information needs. Agricultural Systems, [online] 188 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103030

    2021 - View publication details

  2. Nicholson, C.F., Stephens, E.C., Jones, A.D., Kopainsky, B., Parsons, D., Garrett, J. (2021). Food security outcomes in agricultural systems models: Current status and recommended improvements. Agricultural Systems, [online] 188 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103028

    2021 - View publication details

  3. Emma C Stephens, ASAS-NANP SYMPOSIUM: Review of systems thinking concepts and their potential value in animal science research, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 99, Issue 2, February 2021, skab021, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skab021

    2021 - View publication details

  4. Snow, V., Stephens, E.C., Martin, G., van Wijk, M., Timsina, J., Klerkx, L. (2021). Agricultural Systems Editors' Picks for World Soil Day 2020, 187 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103006

    2021 - View publication details

  5. Nicholson, C.F., Kopainsky, B., Stephens, E.C., Parsons, D., Jones, A.D., Garrett, J. & Phillips, E.L. (2020). Conceptual frameworks linking agriculture and food security. Nature Food, Vol. 1 (September), pages 541-551. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-020-00142-3

    2020 - View publication details

Research facility

5403 1st Avenue South
Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1
Canada

Affiliations

  • Economics Editor, Agricultural Systems
  • Professor of Economics, Pitzer College (California)

Language

English
French