Andrew McDonald

Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science, Soil and Crop Sciences Section

Associate Professor, Global Development Section

I am a cropping systems ecologist who addresses global challenges to agricultural sustainability and food security through process-based agronomy, integrated systems analysis, development of decision frameworks, and by fostering alliances for technology scaling. Much of my current research program is anchored in South Asia where I previously led CIMMYT’s sustainable intensification program.

Our lab uses the tools and integrating perspectives of systems agronomy to drive creative problem-solving in plant production systems. This is particularly important in the Global South, where agriculture is under tremendous pressure to improve food security and rural livelihoods through inclusive approaches that contribute to a broad range of sustainable development goals. These include protection of essential ecosystem services and climate change mitigation.

Interests

Cropping systems ecology

Climate change adaptation and mitigation

Agricultural sustainability, food security, water resources, international agriculture, policy, and applied social sciences

Recent Research

Google Scholar profile and publications.

The Systems Agronomy for Global Development program at Cornell University conjunctively uses the tools and perspectives of modern agronomy (e.g. field trials, large-n farm surveys, remote sensing, dynamic simulation, data mining, and scenario analysis) to understanding how cropping systems function, to establish key entry points for sustainable intensification, and to devise and evaluate the performance of promising innovations. We also dedicate significant effort to translational research that seeks efficient pathways for operationalizing research-based insights through decision support frameworks, analytics-based scaling of solutions, and the development of comprehensive ‘theories of change’ with partners in the public and private sectors to speed sustainability transitions.

Ongoing thematic research priorities include:

Characterizing the drivers and consequences of agricultural burning in South Asia (supported by: Atkinson Venture Fund)
Devising precision fertility and water management solutions for complex smallholder-dominated systems (supported by: the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia / BMGF)
Optimizing time management to increase climate resilience and water productivity in stress-prone production ecologies (supported by: the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia / BMGF)
Quantifying the functional dimensions of cropping systems diversification and transition pathways that support change (supported by: Tata-Cornell Institute)
Understanding landscape and management controls on greenhouse gas emissions in rice-based cropping systems (supported by: Tata-Cornell Institute)
Regional yield gap and nitrogen use efficiency assessments (supported by: Excellence in Agronomy + IRRI / BMGF)
Development of mixed methods approaches for climate change adaptation planning and priority setting (supported by: Excellence in Agronomy / BMGF)

Courses Taught

PLSCI 4140: Global Cropping Systems
PLSCI 6017: Cropping Systems Ecology

Contact Information

1114 Bradfield Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853

ajm9 [at] cornell.edu

Lab website:
- Systems agronomy for global development
Graduate Fields
- Soil and Crop Sciences
- Global Development
Education
- Doctorate
  Cornell University
  2003
- Master of Science
  Cornell University
  1998
- Bachelor of Science
  Cornell University
  1994

Andrew in the news

News

October 13, 2025

Cornell Atkinson-EDF research aids people and planet

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and long-time collaborator Environmental Defense Fund announce their 2025 awardees for joint research and seek new proposals for 2026 initiatives.

Cornell Atkinson
Biological and Environmental Engineering
School of Integrative Plant Science

Local beekeepers and researchers examine an open log with a Melipona favosa nest during a workshop

News

July 10, 2024

Beekeeping, hydropower: Cornell Atkinson awards nearly $1M in grants

Cornell Atkinson’s annual Academic Venture Fund will provide nearly $1 million in seed funding to support research teams across five colleges and 11 departments, many with key external partnerships.

Cornell Atkinson
Animal Science
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Andrew McDonald

Contact Information

Lab website:

Graduate Fields

Education

Andrew in the news