Agricultural Economics

Agricultural economics is the study of economics as it applies to the production and distribution of food and fiber. At the University of Florida, faculty members in the Food and Resource Economics Department focus on teaching, research, and extension related to food and agricultural systems in Florida.

At the Mid-Florida Research and Education Center, Dr. Hayk Khachatryan and Dr. Xuan Wei work alongside Florida’s horticulture industry to conduct research using cutting-edge eye tracking technology, studying how individuals make purchasing decisions about plants. Partnering with organizations such as the National Horticulture Foundation, United States Department of Agriculture, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association, MREC’s agricultural economics research is always at the forefront of current consumer and horticulturalist trends.

Khachatryan’s Consumer Behavior Lab operates at MREC, conducting research with Central Floridians on-site to learn more about how they make decisions regarding purchasing plants, plant labelling, and installing Florida-Friendly Landscaping in their yards, among many other topics.

MREC Agricultural Economics Team

Dr. Hayk Khachatryan
Associate Professor of Food and Resource Economics
407-410-6951
hayk@ufl.edu

Dr. Xuan Wei
Research Assistant Scientist, Food and Resource Economics
407-410-6944
wei.xuan@ufl.edu