Food System Economic Partnership

Getachew Abate
Product Market Analyst
MSU Product Center for Agriculture and Nat Resources

Dr. Abate is Product Market Analyst at the MSU product center for agriculture and natural resources. In this capacity, he conducts innovation, entrepreneurship, venture creation and market research in different food and agricultural sectors, develops program evaluation tools and participates in the development of a client database system for the center. He has worked different positions in different countries (e.g., Ethiopia, Kenya, Germany and U.S.A.). He has managed different national and regional research, extension and training programs financed by national and international organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Bank and USDA. Very recently Dr. Abate managed and coordinated the activities of the “Fund for Rural America – Enhancing Rural Economies” project at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Michigan State University. The project included research and extension education programs in four multi-county clusters of Michigan. Areas of services and assistances included value-added agriculture, land use, business development, human resource management, community enhancement, leadership development, retirement, and tourism development. He has published research findings in journals, periodicals, proceedings and as book chapters. He has also published a book and presented scientific papers at international professional conferences (e.g., Japan, Germany, Switzerland and USA). He has received research grants and financial support from different international organizations (e.g. European Economic Commission, International Society of Horticultural Sciences, German Academic Exchange Service). As part of the Food System Economic Partnership, Dr. Abate represents the expertise and resources of the MSU Product Center. Dr. Abate also serves as a member of the Facilitation Team, guiding much of the research interests and goals.