Pratyoosh Kashyap

Research Scientist

250 Drillfield Drive
319-C Hutcheson Hall
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA 24061

I am a research scientist with a focus on issues of food and nutrition policy analysis, agricultural marketing by small and mid-sized agricultural producers, and consumer behavior and welfare analysis. My work combines applied econometrics and thematic analysis, and my expertise is in spatial econometrics, survey development, and qualitative data collection.

In my ongoing research, I am examining consumer preferences for foods that are grown using environmentally sustainable practices. In another study, I am developing indicators of cultural capital to examine their associations with the adoption of food and nutrition policies. I aim to assist policymakers and community leaders in responding to changes in their food environment in a sustainable manner by leading research that allows for more nuanced, culturally sensitive policy design and programming. On a personal note, I am an avid photographer, like to paint, play tennis, and enjoy the outdoors.

Expertise:

Agricultural Economics
Food and Nutrition Policy
Consumer Behavior
Agricultural Marketing

Education:

Ph.D. Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, USA, 2024
M.A. Development Economics, South Asian University, India, 2017
B.A. Economics, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi, India, 2015

Research

Pratyoosh Kashyap is an agricultural economist whose work focuses on applying economic theory and quantitative methods to examine issues in the food systems. In his current research, he is conducting a lab-in-the-field experiment to examine consumer preferences for agricultural commodities produced using environmentally sustainable methods. He is also developing U.S. county-level multi-dimensional indicators of cultural capital to conduct empirical analyses that inform food policy design and outcomes. He is interested in conducting research and collaborating in many areas, including food security, agricultural labor, universal free school meals policy adoption, consumer preference for insect-based protein, and understanding drivers of healthy food consumption.

His postdoctoral research used a mixed methods approach to examine the distinct technical assistance needs of Black, Hispanic, and Tribal agricultural producers accessing wholesale markets. In his doctoral research, Pratyoosh studied the relationships between the policy environment, community resources, and the adoption of universal free school meal programs and the Farm to School program in the U.S. Further, he conducted countrywide consumer survey to examine the welfare implications for the pork market resulting from an African Swine Fever outbreak in the U.S. as well as the impact that different information sources may have on the outcomes. Before beginning his Ph.D., Pratyoosh worked in India with several public and international institutions where his research focused on agricultural and livestock value chains development for resource-poor women farmers.

Publications

Peer-Reviewed Publications:

Kashyap, P., Suter, J. F., & McKee, S. C. (2024). Measuring changes in pork demand, welfare effects, and the role of information sources in the event of an African swine fever outbreak in the United States. Food Policy, 126, 102672.

Kashyap, P., & Jablonski, B. B. (2024). Universal free school meals: Examining factors influencing adoption of the Community Eligibility Provision. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy.

Kashyap, P., Jablonski, B. B., & Bauman, A. (2024). Exploring the relationships among stocks of community wealth, state farm to school policies, and the intensity of farm to school activities. Food Policy, 122, 102570.

Working Papers:

Kashyap, P., Niewolny, K., McElderry, J., & Ashton, W. “Overcoming Barriers in Technical Assistance for Accessing Wholesale Markets for Black, Hispanic, and Tribal Agricultural Producers: A Provider Perspective.” Submitted to the Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development.

Kashyap, P., Niewolny, K., McElderry, J., & Ashton, W. “Expanding Access: A Review of Technical Assistance for Black, Hispanic, and Tribal Agricultural Producers in Wholesale Markets.” Submitted to Agriculture and Human Values.

Kashyap, P., Jablonski, B. B., & Bovay, J. “The Importance of Culture in Evaluating Community Well-Being: Developing Indicators of Cultural Capital.”

Jablonski, B. B., Boone R. B., Love, E., Bauman, A., Bellows, L. L., Berganini, S., Bonanno, A., Carolan, M.S., Cleary, R., David, O., Dillon, J. A., Jablonski, K. E., Jones, A., Kashyap, P., McCloskey, M. L., Quinn, J.C., Ryan, E. P., Schipanski, M. E., Serafin, F., Summers, H. M., Thilmany, D., Torres, J. A., & Uchanski, M. E. An integrated model to understand tradeoffs associated with public food procurement policy. Under review in Food Policy.

Spalding, A., Yeh, A., Sauer, C., Jablonski, B. B., Kashyap, P., Plakias, Z., & Chaifetz, A. “Trends in Farm to School Program Participation and Procurement.” United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Spalding, A., Jablonski, B., Bauman, A., Kashyap, P., Key, N., Lacy, K., Gill, M., Byrne, A., Rupasingha, A., Low, S., Astill, G., Sauer, C, & Yeh, A. “Trends in Local and Regional Food Systems.” United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

Experience

Research Scientist, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Virginia Tech, 2025-present
Postdoctoral Associate, Center for Food Systems and Community Transformation, Virginia Tech, 2024-2025
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Colorado State University, 2019-2024
Research Associate, Creative Agri Solutions, India, 2017-2019

Google Scholar

curriculum vitae