New agricultural economics faculty added in Rio Grande Valley – AgriLife Today

Three New Faculty Members Join Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Science Department of Agricultural Economics

Three new faculty members have joined the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Science Department of Agricultural Economics to address agriculture and agribusiness challenges in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

Faculty Members:

1. Manuel García, Ph.D., Professor and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agricultural economist
2. Felipe Peguero, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
3. Xavier Villavicencio, Ph.D., Instructional Assistant Professor

Continuing to Build a Presence in the Rio Grande Valley

These new faculty members will contribute to the growing number of agricultural economics experts based in the Rio Grande Valley. Their role is to meet teaching, research, and extension needs, and address challenges for agriculture and agribusiness in the region.

Garcia to Promote Sustainable Agricultural Growth

Manuel García, Ph.D., will work on educational programs and applied research at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. He will focus on promoting sustainable agricultural growth and enhancing the region’s food systems through economic analysis.

Peguero to Concentrate on Optimizing Food Systems

Felipe Peguero, Ph.D., will teach and conduct research at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen and the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Weslaco. His areas of expertise include production economics, demand analysis, financial analysis, climate finance, and agribusiness. He will work on optimizing food systems to improve climate resilience and economic benefits.

Villavicencio Brings Expertise in Agricultural Markets and Management

Xavier Villavicencio, Ph.D., will serve as a full-time instructor at the Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen. He will teach courses on agricultural economic analysis and mentor students. His areas of expertise include agricultural markets, agribusiness management, risk management, international trade, climate change, applied econometrics, finance, and banking.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. SDG 4: Quality Education

• Target 4.3: By 2030, ensure equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational, and tertiary education, including university.
• Indicator: Number of students enrolled in agricultural economics programs in the Rio Grande Valley.

• Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading, and innovation.
• Indicator: Number of agricultural economics experts and faculty members addressing agriculture and agribusiness challenges in South Texas and the Rio Grande Valley.

• Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
• Indicator: Number of educational programs and applied research initiatives focused on sustainable agricultural growth and enhancement of food systems in the Rio Grande Valley.

• Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
• Indicator: Number of research projects and educational programs focused on optimizing food systems, improving climate resilience, and supporting environmental adaptation and mitigation goals in agriculture and agribusiness.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: agrilifetoday.tamu.edu