Earlier this month, the UMD Department of Agricultural & Resource Economics (AREC) made a splash in their field by becoming the first-ever agricultural department to host the BREAD Conference, the premier conference in development economics. A total of 80 professionals, including fellows and affiliates of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD), researchers, presenters, faculty, students, and guests gathered for a rigorous discussion of the latest research in development economics, a field dedicated to improving economic and social conditions in developing countries through the study of behaviors and trends that impact health, sustainability, and economic growth. Since the majority of our population growth is occurring in the developing world, agriculture and resource economics is a key concern. With AREC having one of the top graduate programs in agricultural & resource economics in the country, hosting the BREAD conference establishes AREC and UMD as central to the advancement of development economics.
