Post-Docs & Research Scientists

Federico Trindade

Research Scientist

Federico Trindade joined the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance as a Research Associate in October 2018. He holds MSc and Ph.D. degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. His main areas of study are Agricultural Productivity, Natural Resources, and Agricultural Development. In his research, he has used a variety of methods (econometric, indexes, DEA, among others) and software packages (Stata, R, Gams, ArcGIS, among others) In addition, he has extensive teaching experience.

His dissertation focused on how the environment can affect agricultural productivity growth and efficiency. Here, he estimated how social, political and economic institutions affected agricultural productivity growth and technical efficiency in countries in South America, using parametric and non-parametric methods. Further, he studied what shaped productivity growth in the U.S. High Plains, at county and farm level, considering not only the use of traditional farm inputs but also the impact of higher temperatures, precipitation, irrigation and soil organic matter.

Among other topics, he has estimated the value of water from irrigation using farm-level survey data, how productivity growth has affected biodiversity in Nebraska, and the impact of higher temperatures on agricultural technical efficiency using DEA analysis.

At EPAR, Federico has been studying issues such as the effect that seed type misidentification has on farmers efficiency, the allocation of agricultural R&D among different sources, and the use of mobile money for Ag-payments in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, he is involved with the Global Survey of School Meal Programs, helping the Global Child Nutrition Foundation (GCNF) on its implementation.

Publications

Quinn, J., Awada, T., Trindade, F., Fulginti, L., Perrin, R., 2016. “Combining habitat loss and agricultural intensi cation improves our understanding of drivers of change in avian abundance in a North American cropland anthrome”. Ecology and Evolution. 7(3), 803-814.
Trindade, F. and Fulginiti, L., 2015. “Is there a Slowdown in Agricultural Productivity Growth in South America?” Agricultural Economics, 46: 69-81.
Trindade, F., Fulginiti, L., Perrin, Richard. 2014. “The 41st Parallel Project: Agroecosystem Data 1960-2008”. University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
Trindade, F. and D. Alvarez, 2010. “Status of International Negotiations to limit GHG emissions,” Cornhusker Economics, 508, Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, November 17, 2010.
Alvarez, D. and F. Trindade, 2010. “Status of U.S. Initiatives to Limit GHG Emissions” Cornhusker Economics, 502, October 10, 2010.

Working Papers

Trindade, F., Wineman, A., Anderson, L., Njagi, T., Know what you sow: The cost of seed type misidenti cation in Tanzania.”
Trindade, F., Fulginiti, L. and Perrin, K., “How to double yields in 50 years: lessons from across the Great Plains.”
Trindade, F., Fulginiti, L. and Perrin, K. “How much is free irrigation water really worth?”
Trindade, F., Fulginiti, L. and Perrin, K. “U.S. Crop Yields Redux: Water and heat stress mitigation.”
Trindade, F. “Climate Impact on Agricultural Productivity. A non-parametric approach.”

Awards & Honors

Citation of Merit, outstanding performance as a Ph.D. student. Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL, Lincoln, NE, April 2016
Best paper published in 2015 in Agricultural Economics, for Is there a Slowdown in Agricultural Productivity Growth in South America? Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economics.
Yeutter Fellowship, from the College of Business and Administration, UNL, Lincoln, NE, August 2013.
Widaman Distinguished Graduate Assistant Award, from the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, UNL, Lincoln, NE. October 2012.
Citation of Merit, outstanding performance as a M.S. student. Department of Agricultural Economics, UNL, Lincoln, NE, April 2012
William J. Curtis Endowed Fellowship, from the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR). College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, UNL, Lincoln, NE. May 2011.
1st Place, Human Dimensions Category, Is there a Slowdown in Agricultural Productivity Growth in South America? poster, 2nd International Conference Growing More with Less, Water for Food Institute, Lincoln, NE, May 2010.