Deepthi Kolady is an associate professor of agricultural economics at the Ness School of Management and Economics and an affiliate associate professor at the department of natural resource management at South Dakota State University. She conducts research at the intersection of agriculture, environment and the economic development.

Prior to joining South Dakota State, she worked as an economist at the World Bank, a consultant at the International Food Policy Research Institute and assistant director of international programs at Cornell University. 

Kolady studies the behaviors of producers and consumers in the food sector, specifically examining the choices that create a sustainable farming system, and the healthy food sector and how it responds to technology changes, markets and policies. Among other topics, she researches food and nutritional security, consumer preferences for eco-friendly and healthy foods, agricultural production practices, and agricultural research and development.

Kolady earned her Ph.D. in agricultural economics from Cornell University and her master’s in agricultural economics from the University of Agricultural Sciences in Bangalore, India.

Courtesy of Deepthi Kolady

Pronouns: She/her

Expertise: Agricultural economics, sustainable farming practices, behaviors of consumers and producers in the food sector, agricultural research and development, international development.

Location: Brookings, S.D.

Phone: (605) 688-5321 

Email: Deepthi.kolady@sdstate.edu 

Heard on SDSU Extension: “2021 Ag Economic Dialogues: September”