My research examines how agricultural producers make decisions under climate risk, and how those decisions interact with institutions, markets, and communication systems to shape sustainability transitions in food systems. Grounded in social–ecological systems theory, I use mixed methods—including qualitative interviews, large-scale surveys, experiments, and statistical modeling—to understand how behavior, governance, and knowledge co-produce climate adaptation and mitigation outcomes in working landscapes. 

My research is organized around four interconnected themes:

(1) Climate adaptation and behavioral decision-making in agriculture

A central focus of my work is understanding why and how farmers and ranchers adapt to climate variability and long-term environmental change. I examine how risk perceptions, experiential knowledge, social norms, and structural constraints shape adoption of adaptive practices across diverse agricultural systems, including ranching, dairy, and row-crop production. This work challenges simplified models of belief-driven behavior by showing how adaptation often emerges through pragmatic management decisions, learning over time, and institutional context rather than explicit climate ideology.

(2) Natural climate solutions and whole-farm systems change

I study how agricultural systems contribute to climate mitigation through integrated, whole-farm configurations of practices across land, animal, and manure subsystems. Using multidimensional adoption frameworks, my research characterizes not just whether practices are adopted, but how they are combined, sustained, and adapted over time. This work advances understanding of agriculture’s role in natural climate solutions while highlighting the importance of system-level interactions, tradeoffs, and feasibility in real-world management.

(3) Equity, institutions, and sustainability transitions

Equity is central to effective and durable climate action. My research investigates how policies, programs, and market mechanisms differentially enable or constrain participation in climate-smart transitions. I examine how access to information, capital, social networks, and institutional support shapes who can adapt, who benefits, and who is left out. This work emphasizes the role of institutional design and participatory engagement in fostering transitions that are both environmentally effective and socially just.

(4) Knowledge, language, and evidence-based decision-making under uncertainty

Effective environmental decision-making depends on how knowledge is produced, communicated, and interpreted. I study how language, terminology, and framing influence agricultural decision-making and engagement with climate programs, as well as how different forms of knowledge—scientific, experiential, and place-based—are mobilized in practice. This research contributes to broader debates about evidence-based policy, uncertainty, and communication in complex socio-environmental systems.