Barituka Bekee is a postdoctoral associate with the Food Systems Research Center and the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics. He will be working with a diverse team led by Dr. Joe Ament on a project that is focused on measuring the social dimensions of agricultural production.

Barituka joins UVM from the University of Missouri where he co-directed the Deaton Scholars Program and obtained his PhD in agricultural and applied economics (with an emphasis in environmental and development economics), as well as a certificate in society and sustainability. He studies decision-making in contexts of change and uncertainty and is interested in understanding the drivers and impacts of those decisions.

Specifically, Barituka conducts interdisciplinary research on issues relating to agricultural and rural development, such as farmers’ adoption of digital agricultural technologies and the livelihood resilience of rural households. His research spans different geographical locations including Midwestern United States, the Altiplano region of Bolivia, and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Barituka holds bachelor's and master’s degrees in economics. Prior to graduate studies, he worked at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture in Nigeria where he helped design novel initiatives that aimed at productively engaging young people along agricultural value-chains in SSA. Outside of work, Barituka enjoys playing soccer and connecting with people from various cultures.