Dr. Emma C. Stephens

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
Paterson, T. J., Penner, G. B., Lardner, B., Stephens, E., Gruninger, R. J., Yang, W., Beauchemin, K. A., McAllister, T. A., Ribeiro, G. O. 155 Effect of Forage Inclusion Strategy on Finishing Beef Cattle Performance and Liver Abscesses, Journal of Animal Science, Volume 100, Issue Supplement_3, October 2022, Pages 66–67, https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skac247.131
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
Contact
Research facility
Expertise
Affiliations
- Economics Editor, Agricultural Systems
- Professor of Economics, Pitzer College (California)