Key facts
- Michigan State University Professor David Ortega has received the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award.
- The award honors individuals who effectively communicate agricultural science to the public and policymakers.
- Ortega's research expertise includes consumer behavior, food misinformation, and supply chain resilience.
- He has been featured in over 400 media segments and testified before U.S. congressional committees.
- Ortega holds the Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at MSU.
David L. Ortega, a professor and the Noel W. Stuckman Chair in Food Economics and Policy at Michigan State University (MSU), has been selected to receive the 2025 Borlaug CAST Communication Award. This award recognizes individuals who excel at translating complex agricultural science issues for broader public and policymaker understanding.
Ortega expressed his deep honor in receiving the award, noting the significance of the Borlaug name, which he has admired since childhood in relation to the Green Revolution. His research focuses on the economics of decision-making within agri-food systems, aiming to provide insights for producers, consumers, and policymakers navigating global uncertainty and market disruptions. His work has addressed topics such as consumer behavior, food misinformation, pricing dynamics, agricultural trade policy, and supply chain resilience.
With over 80 peer-reviewed articles and close to 4,000 citations, Ortega has become a prominent voice in agricultural economics. He has appeared in over 400 media segments for outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and CNN, providing data-driven commentary on issues like grocery prices, inflation, and food supply chains. Additionally, he has testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, and the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, and has advised various governmental bodies and organizations.