Meet Carlos Gonzalez Fischer, research associate for Cornell Global Development's new research group — Food Systems & Global Change. Formerly a postdoctoral scientist at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC), Carlos works to improve the sustainability of food systems. Much of his work focuses on climate change and the benefits and impacts of livestock in human health, livelihoods, and the environment.
Academic background:
- PhD Biological Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
- Licenciado (BSc & MSc) in Biological Sciences (Area: Ecology), Faculty of Natural and Exact Sciences, University of Buenos Aires
What research are you currently working on?
I tend to work in collaborative projects with partners across the globe. I am involved in multiple projects in different capacities, but I’d like to think that what I always bring to the table is an alternative point of view in order to develop more integrated analysis that captures a plurality of situations and result in more applicable solutions.
One of the projects I’m most excited about is Modelling the Environmental Repercussions of Livestock Interventions (MERLIN). The project aims at developing a tool for performing fast evaluations of the potential environmental impact of interventions aimed at improving livestock productivity and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. This would allow for minimizing unforeseen negative consequences by refining the design of the interventions, highlighting potential issues, and identifying priorities for monitoring the progress of the intervention.
What most excites you about this opportunity?
I am happy to join such a talented team in such a prestigious institution. Working on food systems requires a truly multidisciplinary approach. A more diverse set of expertise and backgrounds allows us to tackle these challenges at the right level and deliver research that has an impact in the real world. I’m looking forward to collaborating with other members of CALS and the broader Cornell community.
What would you like people to know about your field?
To improve the sustainability of food systems would require that we all work together. There are no silver bullets or one-size-fits-all solutions, but that does not mean there is nothing we can do. We need well-informed tailor-made interventions based on what we already know (which is a lot), and to continue research to help us improve our understanding of the current situation as well as developing novel technologies, practices and solutions.
If you had unlimited grant funding, what major problem in your field would you want to solve?
Food security. We have made incredible progress into increasing food production, and we are moving towards reducing the environmental impacts associated with it. However, food production is still a major driver of environmental degradation, and a considerable amount of people do not get an adequate nutrition, including a huge number of people do not get the bare minimum required to live. It is a monumental task, that exceeds any one scientific field, and even academia as a whole, but it is a goal humanity needs to embrace.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
I like to spend time with my family and friends, I like feeling I am part of a community and connecting to others. I also enjoy cooking (and eating), surrounding myself with nature and getting lost in a book or movie.
