LaPorchia A. Collins

Dr. LaPorchia Collins is a food and agricultural economist in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. Her research program focuses on equity in food, agriculture, and nutrition. Her research aims to address multiple dimensions of food insecurity by examining inequities across the food system and social issues at the ag-food-environment nexus. Her research assesses the impacts of industry and policy changes on food and agricultural markets; addresses barriers to the economic viability, sustainability, and resilience of small and medium-scale farms and agribusinesses; and analyzes drivers of food insecurity at various scales. 

Before joining Friedman, Dr. Collins served as a research agricultural economist at the USDA, Economic Research Service (ERS), where she conducted research on livestock and animal product markets, including on topics such as livestock industry structure, farm management, and minority farm performance. Before ERS, Dr. Collins served as a senior professor of practice and director of undergraduate studies in economics at Tulane University.