College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Department of Plant and Soil Science

Professor V. Ernesto Méndez

V. Ernesto Méndez

I am a Professor of Agroecology & Environmental Studies in both the Department of Plant and Soil Science and the Environmental Program, UVM.

My research and teaching efforts focus on developing and applying interdisciplinary approaches that analyze interactions between agriculture, livelihoods, and environmental conservation in tropical and temperate rural landscapes. Most of this work also utilizes a Participatory Action Research Approach (PAR), in an effort to directly support conservation and rural development.

To see the full listing of my courses please visit my Teaching Program web page.

C.V.

Twitter: @Agroecology_UVM

Publications

Recent Publications

Cuéllar, M., D.López-García, A.Azevedo-Olival, N.P.Laranjeira, V.E. Méndez, S.Peredo, C.A.Barbosa, C.Barrera-Salas, M.Caswell, R.Cohen, A.Correo-Humanes, V.García-García, S.R.Gliessman, A.Pomar-León, A.Sastre-Morató, G.Tendero-Acín(submitted)Cuéllar, M., D.López-García, A.Azevedo-Olival, N.P.Laranjeira, V.E. Méndez, S.Peredo, C.A.Barbosa, C.Barrera-Salas, M.Caswell, R.Cohen, A.Correo-Humanes, V.García-García, S.R.Gliessman, A.Pomar-León, A.Sastre-Morató, G.Tendero-Acín(submitted) Building Agroecology with people. Challenges of participatory methods to deepen on the agroecological transition in different contexts. Journal of Rural Studies.

Doran, E., A. Zia, S. Hurley, Y. Tsai, C. Koliba, E.C. Adair, R. Schattman, V.E. Méndez, D. Rizzo (submitted) Social-Psychological Determinants of Farmer Intention to Adopt Nutrient Management Practices: Implications for Resilient Adaptation to Climate Change in the Lake Champlain Basin. Journal of Environmental Management

Anderzén, J., A. Guzmán-Luna, D.V. Luna-González, S. Merrill, M. Caswell, V. E. Méndez, R. Hernandez-Jonapa, M. Mier y Teran (in review) Effects of on-farm diversification strategies on smallholder coffee farmer food security and income sufficiency in Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Rural Studies.

Méndez, V.E., M. Caswell, S.R. Gliessman & R. Cohen (2017) Integrating Agroecology and Participatory Action Research (PAR): Lessons from Central America. Invited Article for a Special Issue on “Agroecology at the Crossroads: Challenges for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems”. Sustainability [open access] 9(5):705

Vermont Research & Projects

Part of the research collaborative The Vermont Agricultural Resilience in a Changing Climate. This is a long-term initiative that seeks to work with farmers, agricultural service providers, researchers and community organizations to address the impacts of climate change in Vermont.

International Research & Projects

Agroecology and Rural Livelihoods in Coffee Regions of Mesoamerica. My research activities in this area focus on the potential of agroecology to support farmer livelihoods and conserve ecosystem services in agroforestry-dominated landscapes. Most of our previous work focused on shade coffee, but we are expanding it to include other forms of agroforestry, such as homegardens, and food crops (such as corn, beans and vegetables).

Awards and Recognition

Hubert W. Vogelmann Award for Excellence in Research and Scholarship (2015).College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Vermont

Associations and Affiliations

Faculty Fellow Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, UVM
Steering Committee Member Food Systems Initiative UVM
Affiliated Faculty Food Systems Graduate Program, UVM
Adjunct Professor, M.S. Agroecology/Sustainable Rural Development, U Internacional de Analucía
Adjunct Professor, PhD. Environment and Society, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain
Affiliated Researcher Community Agroecology Network
Advisory Committee Member Collaborative Crop Research Program

Areas of Expertise and/or Research

Agroecology; Food Security and Sovereignty; Rural Livelihoods; Agrifood Systems; Political Ecology; Participatory Action Research (PAR); Environmental Conservation in Agricultural Landscapes

Education

Ph.D. Department of Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz 2004
M.Sc. Tropical Agriculture Research & Education Center Turrialba, Costa Rica 1996
B.Sc. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California 1994

Contact

Email:

Ernesto.Mendez@uvm.edu

Phone:

(802) 656-2924

Office Location:

225 Jeffords Hall

Office Hours:

225 Jeffords Hall, by appointment

Website(s):

ALC Agroecology & Livelihoods Collaborative

Courses Taught

PSS 212 Advanced Agroecology

ENVS 202 Senior Capstone Course

Certificate of Graduate Study in Agroecology