TIE Fellow 2017-2018: John VanderHeide

John VanderHeide, Master of Science in Nutrition Science and Policy, Agriculture, Food & Environment; Master of Arts in Urban & Environmental Policy and Planning

I am a MS/MA candidate splitting my time between the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning department.  My general research interests relate to changing diets around the globe and how they are related to sustainable agriculture and resource use equity.  Of particular interest is how demand that is generated in more affluent parts of the world impacts production centers that are located in less affluent parts of the world.  This interest began while working with Guatemalan farmers between 2012 and 2015.  During this time I learned a great deal about how the trends of globalization and free trade impacted small scale farmers very directly.