Fitzroy (Roy) Beckford

Director of UVM Extension

Associate Dean College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Associate Extension Professor

PRONOUNS he/him

Roy Beckford headshot
Pronouns he/him
Alma mater(s)
  • Ph.D., Sustainability Education (Integrated Food-Energy Systems), Prescott College, Arizona
  • MSc., Agriculture and Rural Development, University of the West Indies, Trinidad
  • AAS., Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health, REPAHA (CARICOM), Guyana, South America

BIO

Fitzroy (Roy) B. Beckford, Ph.D., is an accomplished and widely recognized figure in the field of agriculture, sustainability, and climate change, and has made significant contributions to academia, research, and Extension. Roy began his career in veterinary and public health in Jamaica, and later moved to the British Virgin Islands, where he served in various capacities within the agricultural sector for a decade. His passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation led him to broaden his educational palate, obtaining a MSc in Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of the West Indies, and a Doctorate in Sustainability Education from Prescott College in Arizona. His published doctoral thesis — Advancing an integrated food energy system (IFES) in Haiti: Applying sustainability models in ecologically degraded environments — is highly cited and has served to focus attention on ecosystems sustainability. Roy served as Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and as County Extension Director at the University of Florida where he attained tenure and served for a total of 15 years and worked at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from 2018-2020, serving as the State Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Roy took a hiatus from Extension work in the USA in 2020 to serve as senior consultant on an agricultural development initiative in Qatar that was focused on meeting domestic food production goals for the 2022 Soccer World Cup finals. 

Currently, Dr. Beckford holds the position of Associate Extension Professor, as well as Associate Dean and Director of Extension at the University of Vermont, where he oversees extension education and outreach programs that serve agricultural stakeholders and communities. Roy has published two major scholarly books — The Third Pillar: Unearthing the agro-economic potential of the British Virgin Islands, and his most recent work Poverty and Climate Change: Restoring a Global Biogeochemical Equilibrium. His work and research have made a significant impact in the fields of sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and social equity.

Publications

Roy Beckford on Google Scholar

Area(s) of expertise

International agriculture, natural resources, extension outreach, organizational management

Bio

Fitzroy (Roy) B. Beckford, Ph.D., is an accomplished and widely recognized figure in the field of agriculture, sustainability, and climate change, and has made significant contributions to academia, research, and Extension. Roy began his career in veterinary and public health in Jamaica, and later moved to the British Virgin Islands, where he served in various capacities within the agricultural sector for a decade. His passion for sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation led him to broaden his educational palate, obtaining a MSc in Agriculture and Rural Development from the University of the West Indies, and a Doctorate in Sustainability Education from Prescott College in Arizona. His published doctoral thesis — Advancing an integrated food energy system (IFES) in Haiti: Applying sustainability models in ecologically degraded environments — is highly cited and has served to focus attention on ecosystems sustainability. Roy served as Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and as County Extension Director at the University of Florida where he attained tenure and served for a total of 15 years and worked at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University from 2018-2020, serving as the State Program Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources. Roy took a hiatus from Extension work in the USA in 2020 to serve as senior consultant on an agricultural development initiative in Qatar that was focused on meeting domestic food production goals for the 2022 Soccer World Cup finals. 

Currently, Dr. Beckford holds the position of Associate Extension Professor, as well as Associate Dean and Director of Extension at the University of Vermont, where he oversees extension education and outreach programs that serve agricultural stakeholders and communities. Roy has published two major scholarly books — The Third Pillar: Unearthing the agro-economic potential of the British Virgin Islands, and his most recent work Poverty and Climate Change: Restoring a Global Biogeochemical Equilibrium. His work and research have made a significant impact in the fields of sustainable agriculture, climate change adaptation, and social equity.

Areas of Expertise

International agriculture, natural resources, extension outreach, organizational management

Committees and Boards

  1. Agriculture Innovation Board – Member
  2. Vermont Ag Water Quality Partnership – Member
  3. Vt Farm and Forest Viability, Vt Housing and Conservation Board – Exec Com.
  4. Vermont Council on World Affairs – Member
  5. Vermont Farm Show – Exec Com.
  6. Intervale Board of Advisors – Board Member
  7. Vermont Milk Commission – Member, Governor appointed
  8. Vermont Agriculture Disaster Task Force, Governor Appointed
  9. Vermont First, Advisory Board – Member
  10. Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships – BOA Member
  11. State Technical Committee, NRCS - Member
  12. Northeast Extension Directors association (NEED) – Chair
  13. Extension Committee on Organization and Policy, Climate PAT – Co-Chair
  14. Extension Committee on Organization and Policy – Program Committee member