By Scout Nelson
North Dakota State University (NDSU) has earned national recognition for its work in agricultural trade research. The NDSU Agricultural Trade Monitor received the Bruce Gardner Memorial Prize for Applied Policy Analysis from the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA). The award was presented during the AAEA Awards and Fellows Recognition Ceremony held in July 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Agricultural Trade Monitor was launched in 2025 to provide monthly updates on agricultural trade trends, policy changes, and global market developments. The publication offers research-based information that helps farmers, agribusinesses, and policymakers better understand changing trade conditions.
The award was accepted by Sandro Steinbach, NDSU Farmers Union Endowed Professor of Agribusiness and Applied Economics, and Shawn Arita, NDSU associate professor. Both play leading roles in agricultural policy research through the NDSU Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies (CAPTS) and the Agricultural Risk Policy Center.
"The Bruce Gardner Award is especially meaningful because it recognizes policy analysis that is grounded in economic theory and useful to decision-makers," Steinbach said. "The NDSU Agricultural Trade Monitor was built to provide timely, research-driven insight on global agricultural trade at a moment when producers, agribusinesses, and policymakers need clear, data-informed analysis."
Steinbach also recognized the work of the research team, including NDSU researchers Rwit Chakravorty, Matthew Gammans, Jiyeon Kim, Wuit Yi Lwin, Ming Wang, and Xiting Zhuang.
NDSU Interim Vice President for Research and Creative Activity Heidi Grunwald praised the achievement, saying the recognition highlights the value of research that helps decision-makers during uncertain trade conditions.
Steinbach is widely recognized for his work in agricultural policy, trade, business management, and applied economics. In February 2026, he was ranked among the top 2% of economists on RePEc based on publications over the previous decade. Arita specializes in agricultural policy, commodity markets, economic modeling, and impact assessment.
The research team also received the AAEA 2026 Choices Outstanding Article Award for their article in the special collection titled "Economic Consequences of the Tariff War."
Photo Credit: North Dakota State University
Categories: North Dakota, General