Alba Collart

Educational Background

Ph.D. Agricultural Economics
Texas A&M University 2013

M.S. Agricultural Economics
Texas A&M University 2009

B.S. Agribusiness
Pan-American Agricultural School, Zamorano 2007

Profile

Alba Collart is a food and agricultural economist with broad research and teaching interests in survey design, experimental and behavioral economics, technology adoption, and food marketing and policy. As the population grows, food systems will continue to face economic, social, and environmental challenges. In her work, Dr. Collart uses economic thinking to inform decision-making and help design sustainable food and agricultural systems. On the marketing side, she has analyzed consumer food waste, consumer response to local brand advertising and ambiguous labeling claims, the influence of consumer health concerns on direct-from-producer purchases, and potential applications of blockchain technology for agribusinesses. On the policy side, she has worked on disentangling the implications of the Farm Bill and the Food Safety Modernization Act for the specialty crop industry and analyzing the state and malleability of public opinion regarding USDA expenditures. Dr. Collart has advised graduate and undergraduate research projects and served as Vice-President of Education for the Food Distribution Research Society. She received the Patrick J. Byrne Award for Emerging Leadership from the Food Distribution Research Society in 2017 and an Emerging Scholar Award from the Southern Agricultural Economics Association in 2019 and delivered the inaugural Rising Star Keynote Address at the 2021 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association annual meeting. Most recently, she serves as President of the Food Distribution Research Society.

Publications

Collart, A.J., and E. Canales. 2022. "How Might Broad Adoption of Blockchain-Based Traceability Impact the U.S. Fresh Produce Supply?" Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy 44:219–236.

Collart, A.J., M.G. Interis, C. Henson, J. Maples. 2022. "The Impacts of Food Waste Information on Consumer Preferences for Blemished Produce and Implications for Food Retailers." Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 2022:1-21.

Collart, A.J., S.G. Ishee, and K.H. Coble. 2021. "Divvying Up the Pie: U.S. Adults’ Preferences for USDA Expenditures." Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 46(3):361-379.

Collart, A.J., S.L. Meyers, and J.K. Ward. 2019. "Consumer Perception of Skinning Injury in Sweet potatoes and Implications for Marketability: An Experimental Auction." HortTechnology 29(4):468-475.

Collart, A.J., and M. Interis. 2018. "Consumer Imperfect Information in the Market for Expired and Nearly Expired Foods and Implications for Reducing Food Waste." Sustainability 10(11):3835-3851.

Chavez, D., M. Palma, and A.J. Collart. 2018. "Using Eye-tracking to Model Attribute Non-attendance in Choice Experiments." Applied Economics Letters 25(19):1355-1359.

Collart, A.J. 2018. "Friction Lovers: The Case for an Efficiency Tax," published by The Economist. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 100(2):644-645.

Thapaliya, S., M. Interis, A.J. Collart, L. Walters, and K. Morgan. 2017. "Are Consumer Health Concerns Influencing Direct-from-Producer Purchasing Decisions?" Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 49(2):211-231.

Petrolia, D., A.J. Collart, and L. Yehouenou. 2016. "Consumer Preferences for Delacata Catfish: A Choice Experiment with Tasting." Journal of Food Distribution Research 47(3):84-100.

Collart, A.J. 2016. "The Food Safety Modernization Act and the Marketing of Fresh Produce." Choices 31(1):1-7.

Palma, M.A., A.J. Collart, and C. Chammoun. 2015. "Information Asymmetry in Consumer Perceptions of Quality-Differentiated Food Products." The Journal of Consumer Affairs 49(3):596-612.

Ramirez, O., C. Carpio, and A.J. Collart. 2015. "Are the Federal Crop Insurance Subsidies Equitably Distributed? Evidence from a Monte Carlo Simulation Analysis." Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 40(3):457-475.

Collart, A.J., and K. Coble. 2014. "Highlights of the Agricultural Act of 2014 for Specialty Crops." Choices 29(2):1-4.

Ramirez, O., Mullen, J., and A.J. Collart. 2014. "Insights into the Appropriate Level of Disaggregation for Efficient Time Series Model Forecasting." Journal of Applied Statistics 41(10):2298-2311.

Collart, A.J., M.A. Palma, and C. Carpio. 2013. "Consumer Response to Point of Purchase Advertising for Local Brands." Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 45(2):1-14.

Palma, M.A., C. Hall, and A.J. Collart. 2011. "Repeat Buying Behavior for Ornamental Plants: A Consumer Profile." Journal of Food Distribution Research 42(2):67-77.

Collart, A.J., M.A. Palma, and C. Hall. 2010. "Branding Awareness and Willingness-to-Pay Associated with the Texas SuperstarTM and Earth-KindTM Brands in Texas." HortScience 45(8):1226-1231.