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
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)