Matin Qaim

Matin Qaim is an agricultural and food economist and Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany. He is a world-leading researcher on food security and sustainable development, best known for his seminal work on the economics of agricultural biotechnology, sustainable food systems, and agriculture-nutrition linkages. With over 200 journal articles, four books, and 50 book chapters he is one of the best published and most cited agricultural economists worldwide. In 2018, Qaim was elected member of the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina); he is one of the first agricultural economists who has ever received this honor. His work was also recognized through several national and international science prizes. In 2021, he became President-Elect of the International Association of Agricultural Economicts (IAAE).

Qaim’s research is characterized by meticulous analysis at the micro level. He has collected primary survey data in numerous countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Qaim has a unique talent to identify emerging issues and address them with innovative approaches. His interdisciplinary perspective is reflected in the portfolio of journals in which he publishes. Much of his work appeared in leading field journals of agricultural and development economics. In addition, he has published in top plant science and biotech journals (e.g., Nature Biotechnology, Nature Plants), nutrition (e.g., Proceedings of the Nutrition Society), and broader high-impact factor journals (e.g., Science, Nature Group, PNAS). Several of his papers are “highly cited” in the Web of Science (top 1% in a particular field).



With his work on the impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops on farmers and consumers in developing countries, Qaim has pioneered a new research direction and significantly influenced the profession’s thinking about biotechnology. He has summarized his 20 years of experience on this topic in a book titled “Genetically Modified Crops and Agricultural Development” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).



Beyond biotech, Qaim has conducted seminal research on linking farmers to global value chains. His studies analyze effects of contracting in the small farm sector, certification, supermarkets, and related institutional innovations on income, poverty, and gender roles. Concerning his work on agriculture-nutrition linkages, Qaim was among the first to analyze the effects of agricultural policies and innovations on the different types of malnutrition (hunger, micronutrient malnutrition, overnutrition).



Qaim is also an active science communicator and policy advisor. Large newspapers have reported about his research, including The New York Times, The Economist, and Newsweek. In addition to his academic publications, he has written more than 80 articles for professional magazines and public newspapers. Qaim was invited twice to the Vatican to talk about the role of GM crops for food security, where he also met with Pope Francis. He is member of high-level science advisory committees for various national and international organizations.



Qaim puts strong emphasis on international cooperation and capacity building. He has initiated large research consortia with various CGIAR centers and other international partners. Qaim has supervised over 60 PhD students as main advisor, most of them funded through his research projects with ample field work opportunities. More than half of his PhD students are from developing countries. Qaim’s leadership role in curriculum development and establishing new training programs is particularly noteworthy.





Professional Positions:



Since 2021 Professor of Economic and Technological Change, University of Bonn, and Director, Center for Development Research (ZEF)

2007-2021 Professor of International Food Economics and Rural Development, Georg-August-University of Goettingen, Germany



2004-2007 Professor of International Agricultural Trade and Food Security, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany



2003-2004 Senior Researcher and Team Leader, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany



2001-2003 Visiting Research Fellow, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California, Berkeley, USA



1997-2000 Research Associate/Fellow, Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany



1996-1997 Research Associate, Institute of Food Economics, University of Kiel, Germany







Academic Degrees:



Habilitation in Agricultural and Development Economics, University of Bonn, 2003



PhD in Agricultural Economics, University of Bonn, 2000



MSc in Agricultural Economics, University of Kiel, 1996



BSc in Agricultural Sciences, University of Bonn, 1992





Selected Awards and Honors:



Elected AAEA Fellow, American Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, 2019



Elected Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, 2018



Elected Member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences, 2011



Excellence Award for Policy-Oriented Development Research of the German Development Bank (KfW), 2011



Grand International DLG-Prize for Scientific Achievements of the German Agricultural Society (DLG), 2010



Outstanding Article Award, American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA), 2007



Emmy Noether-Grantee of the German Research Foundation (DFG), 2001-2005



Josef G. Knoll-Science-Award of the Eiselen Foundation, 2000



Nils Westermarck-Award of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), 2003







Other Selected Academic Roles and Appointments:



President-Elect, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) (since 2021, Board Member since 2018)

Lead Expert Group, Global Panel on Agriculture and Food Systems for Nutrition, (since 2018)

Associate Editor, “American Journal of Agricultural Economics” (since 2018)

Editorial Committee, Annual Review of Resource Economics (since 2015)

Standing Committee on Life Sciences, Leopoldina, German National Academy of Sciences (since 2015)



Steering Committee, German Agricultural Society (DLG) (2014-2017)



Adjunct Professor, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand (since 2010)



Scientific Advisory Board, German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (2009-2019)



Board of Trustees, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) (2009-2014)



Board of Directors, Africa Harvest Biotech International Foundation (2009-2014)



Chair of the External Advisory Board, Africa Biofortified Sorghum (ABS) Project (Funded by the Gates Foundation) (2006-2009)



Golden Rice Humanitarian Board (since 2006)



Editorial Board of the Journal “Food Policy” (since 2007)







Most Cited Publications:



Yield effects of genetically modified crops in developing countries

M Qaim, D Zilberman

Science 299 (5608), 900-902 2003



A meta-analysis of the impacts of genetically modified crops

W Klümper, M Qaim

PloS One 9 (11), e111629 2014



Linking smallholders to markets: determinants and impacts of farmer collective action in Kenya

E Fischer, M Qaim

World Development 40 (6), 1255-1268 2012



The economics of genetically modified crops

M Qaim

Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 1 (1), 665-694 2009



Production diversity and dietary diversity in smallholder farm households

KT Sibhatu, VV Krishna, M Qaim

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 112 (34), 10657-10662
2015