MICHAEL AGYEKUM. 446 West Circle Drive, Room 321, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; ;

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1 MICHAEL AGYEKUM 446 West Circle Drive, Room 321, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; ; EDUCATION Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA December, 2013 Ph.D. in Applied Economics and Statistics; and MSc. in Economics Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana MPhil. Courses in Agricultural Economics April, 2009 BSc. Agriculture (Specialization: Agricultural Economics) June, 2005 First Class Honors RESEARCH/ TEACHING EXPERIENCE Post-doctoral Research Associate, International Development March, 2015 Present Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA Currently contributing to implementation of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded project titled Development and Delivery of Sustainable Integrated Pest Management (1PM) Strategies in Cowpea for West Africa. ; a collaborative research project involving Michigan State University (MSU), the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (UIUC), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Benin, and the Institut National des Recherches Agricoles du Benin (INRAB) in Benin. My current responsibilities include: Conducting ex-ante economic impact analysis of innovative IPM strategies (decision-support cellphone technology, parasitoids, botanical/viral biopesticides) for the major cowpea pest Maruca vitrata o Designing survey questionnaires for collecting baseline and farmer-choice experiment data o Programming survey instruments into electronic questionnaires using the ODK mobile data collection technology for Android devices o Implementing a farmer field survey in Benin, West Africa, to collect baseline and experimental data on smallholder cowpea production systems, including farmers crop protection decisions o Preparing survey data documentation to streamline analysis o Analyzing resulting survey data focusing on key characteristics of cowpea farmers in Benin, preferences for biocontrol strategies versus conventional crop protection methods using synthetic chemical pesticides o Assessing both farm-level profitability and market-level effects of the novel biocontrol program to explore distribution of potential impacts on producers and consumers in the cowpea sector o Conducting a cross-country comparative analysis focusing on characteristics of smallholder cowpea farmers in West Africa to help inform effective strategies toward scaling-up the precision IPM intervention. Coordinating project milestone and financial reporting to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation by working closely with project PIs and administrative officers at the MSU contracts and grants office Communicating project accomplishments by preparing briefs, reports, presentations, and other promotional materials for the project website to enhance visibility and make project information widely available to stakeholders and the general public 1

2 Conducting financial feasibility studies of local biopesticide enterprises in Benin to evaluate the competitiveness of alternative business models including social enterprises and private sector investments o Designing guides for key informant and focus group discussions to collect data from key actors of the local biopesticide industry in Benin o Conducting several key informant and focus group interviews with stakeholders of the local biopesticide industry including a community of women producers, neem oil entrepreneurs, NGO representatives (social enterprise investors), market distributors, local university faculty for agribusiness training, as well as technical experts (research scientists) on biopesticides o Evaluating the profitability of processing a novel biopesticide product composed of an effective and highly specific virus that targets the legume pod-borer pest Maruca vitrata o Assessing the financial feasibility of a complementary botanical biopesticide oil extracted from kernels of Neem plant Azadirachta indica Collaborating with other project PIs on preparing concept notes, and developing proposals for the next phase of the innovative IPM project Preparing manuscripts on project research findings for publication in peer-reviewed scientific journals and edited book chapters Research Consultant (Professional Services Contract) January, 2015 February, 2015 Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA Prepared annotated bibliography of existing research on IPM and biological pest controls, including designs of experimental approaches to farmer decision-making Visited Benin and coordinated with project colleagues at IITA-Benin and collaborators at INRAB-Benin to discuss and identify key aspects of the cowpea sector in Benin that helped inform the implementation of a subsequent baseline field survey Embarked on field visits across selected cowpea-producing communities in Benin and interacted with farmers individually and in focus group discussions Identified and obtained access to sources of secondary data on farming systems and IPM methods adoption in Benin, West Africa Developed initial design proposal for field survey research on potential economic effects of a precision IPM innovation with novel parasitoids, and financial viability of small-scale biopesticides production for the cowpea industry in West Africa Post-doctoral Research Assistant January, 2014 December, 2014 Graduate Research Assistant August, 2009 December, 2013 Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA Reviewed literature on the economics of food policies: the effects of food standards on market participants, international trade in agricultural products, transformation of agricultural markets, evaluation of policy impacts on poverty alleviation, market power in food industries Conducted field surveys on consumer preferences for safer foods Carried out data management (data entry, cleaning, and organization) and data analysis using statistical softwares such as SAS, Stata, R, SPSS, and LIMDEP Prepared research reports and presented findings at academic/professional seminars and conferences 2

3 Assisted in the teaching of courses in Aquaculture Economics and Management High School Teacher October, July, 2009 Ghana Education Service, Oppon Memorial Senior High School, Ghana Taught courses in Biology, Physics, and Information & Communication Technology Served as an Invigilator (Proctor) in standardized exams (WASSCE) organized by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Assisted in the day-to-day management of a school computer laboratory Teaching/Research Assistant September, August, 2006 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana Participated in two research projects under the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water & Food, namely CP 38 and CP 51: o In CP 38; I helped to assess and evaluate land and water productivity of vegetable farms in Ghana. I monitored experimental sites, collected field data, prepared progress reports, and served as a liaison between field workers and Principal Investigators of the project o CP 51 was a field survey on wastewater irrigation, perceptions of environmental and health risks among urban communities in Ghana. I conducted field surveys, led Focus Group discussions, screened questionnaires, and transcribed data obtained through audio recordings Assisted in the design of questionnaires and analysis of data from student research projects Organized tutorials for undergraduate students, proctored and graded exam Enumerator (short-term contract) June, 2006 International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Ghana Collected field survey data assessing irrigation schemes for smallholder tomato farmers in Ghana Enumerator (short-term contracts) October, August, 2008 Marketing Agencies: Research International, and Steadman Group Ghana Ltd. Administered survey questionnaires on consumer preferences for Nestle Ghana food products, various brands of beer, and a variety of bar soaps/detergents Recruited interviewees and helped organize interviewer-training workshops Industrial Internship July, 2004-September, 2004 Cocoa Research Station, Juaso, Ashanti Region, Ghana Participated in pollinating/breeding superior and high-yielding cocoa seedlings for farmers in Ghana PRESENTATIONS International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Seminar, Cotonou, Benin; 2016 Precision Pest Management Strategies for Cowpea Farmers in West Africa: Socio-economic Aspects Lunch Seminar at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Headquarters, Seattle, Washington; 2016 Precision Pest Management Strategies for Cowpea Farmers in West Africa: a Proof of Concept Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Conference, Boston, Massachusetts;

4 Novel IPM Intervention for West Africa: Smallholder Farmers Preferences for Biological versus Synthetic Control Strategies for Cowpea Pests PanAfrican Grain Legume and World Cowpea Conference, Zambia; 2016 IPM Intervention in Benin: Cowpea Farmers Preferences for Biological versus Chemical Pest Control Strategies for Maruca vitrata Development Economics Seminars, Michigan State University; 2015 IPM Intervention in Benin: Cowpea Farmers Preferences for Biological versus Chemical Pest Control Strategies for Maruca vitrata Departmental Seminar Series, Auburn University; 2012 Peanut trade and aflatoxin standards in Europe: Economic effects on exporting countries Guest Presenter for a Macroeconometrics graduate-level class in the Department of Economics, Auburn University; 2011 Exchange Rates and Rice Import Prices in Ghana Peanut CRSP Strategic Research Conference, Malta; 2011 Economic Implications of Aflatoxin Regulations on Peanut Producers and Consumers in Ghana Guest Presenter for a Food Policy Analysis graduate-level class in the Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, KNUST, Ghana; 2008 Economic Analysis of Agricultural Policies using the Policy Analysis Matrix (PAM) Framework RESEARCH INTERESTS Economics of Agricultural Policies; Impact Evaluation; Analysis of Agricultural Markets; Climate Change; Food Security/Safety; Sustainable Agriculture; Environmental and Resource Economics; International Trade TEACHING INTERESTS Agricultural Markets Analysis; Development Economics; International Trade; Applied Microeconomics; Applied Statistics; Applied Econometrics; Environmental and Resource Economics PUBLICATIONS Agyekum, M. and C. M. Jolly. (2017). Peanut trade and aflatoxin standards in Europe: Economic effects on trading countries. Journal of Policy Modeling, 39: Agyekum, M., C. M. Jolly and H. W. Kinnucan. Analysis of Aflatoxin Interventions in Developing Countries: The Case of the Peanut Sector in Ghana. (Submitted). Agyekum, M., C. M. Jolly, and H. Thompson. Aflatoxins and Health Considerations in Consumer Food Choices in Ghana. (Submitted). Agunbiade, T. A., W. Sun, B. S. Coates, F. Traore, J. A. Ojo, A. N. Lutomia, J. Bello Bravo, S. Miresmailli, J. E. Huesing, M. Agyekum, M. Tamò, and B. R. Pittendrigh. Cowpea Field Insect Pests and Integrated Pest Management Techniques for Cowpea Cultivation in West Africa. Book chapter. (Forthcoming). Agyekum, M., C. Donovan, and F. Lupi. Novel IPM for Smallholder Cowpea Farmers in West Africa: Preferences for Biological vs. Chemical Pest Control Strategies. (In Progress). Agyekum M., C. Donovan, B. Pittendrigh, and M. Tamo. Farmer baseline survey report on smallholder cowpea production and existing pest management practices in Benin, West Africa (Draft Technical Report). Michigan State University. 4

5 Agyekum, M., M. Diarrassouba, and A. Twum Barima. Non-competitive Pricing in Rice Trade: United States Exports to Major Importers and West Africa. (Working paper). STATISTICAL SOFTWARES Proficient in statistical softwares such as Stata, SAS, R, SPSS. OTHER RELEVANT SKILLS Proficient in programming electronic survey questionnaires using ODK technology. RESEARCH PROJECTS Economic Analysis of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded project Development and Delivery of Sustainable Precision Integrated Pest Management (1PM) Strategies for the Cowpea Sector in West Africa. Current Research at Michigan State University, USA USAID s Peanut Collaborative Research Support Program (Peanut CRSP); Aflatoxin Regulation Interventions and Peanut Marketing. Past Research at Auburn University, USA CGIAR Challenge Program on Water & Food (i.e. CP 38 & CP 51 projects). Past Research at KNUST, Ghana Cost & Revenue Analysis of Snail Farming in Ghana. Past Research at KNUST, Ghana LEADERSHIP POSITIONS Provided leadership by managing a team of research assistants to implement a Baseline and Choice Experiment field survey in Benin as part of efforts to collect data for the purpose of conducting ex-ante economic impact analyses of a precision IPM research project targeting smallholder cowpea production in West Africa; 2015 Led a team of research assistants to carry out a Contingent Valuation field survey in Ghana to determine consumer preferences for peanuts with reduced aflatoxin contamination; 2012 Graduate Student Senator at Auburn University for two consecutive terms; academic years Member, Budget and Finance Committee of the Auburn University Graduate Student Council; AWARDS / HONORS/ ASSOCIATIONS Graduate Research Assistantship, Auburn University; full scholarship awarded from Certificate of Recognition for academic excellence, The Honor Society of Agriculture; 2010 Outstanding Graduate Student Award Recipient, Auburn University; 2012/2013 academic year Recipient of the Professor Andam Vice-Chancellor s Special Initiative Fellowship awarded to exceptionally talented persons to pursue MPhil./Ph.D. programs at KNUST, Ghana; First Class Honors (BSc.), and overall best student; Class of 2005, Faculty of Agriculture, KNUST, Ghana Auburn Alumni Association Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) SERVICE TO PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS AS A REVIEWER International Food and Agribusiness Management Review (IFAMR);

6 REFERENCE CONTACT INFORMATION Dr. Cynthia Donovan Deputy Director of the USAID Feed the Future Legume Innovation Lab Associate Professor, Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA Phone: Office: ; Cellphone: Dr. Curtis M. Jolly Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama , USA Phone: Dr. Henry W. Kinnucan Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama Phone: (334) Fax (334) CV updated on February 18,