Miet Maertens

Miet Maertens is a distinguished professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, where she leads the Agricultural and Rural Development Economics research group and serves as the department vice chair of Earth and Environmental Sciences. With a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Georg-August University Göttingen and MSc degrees in Economics and Bioscience Engineering from KU Leuven, she has established herself as a prominent researcher in agricultural and development economics. Her research portfolio encompasses crucial areas including global food value chains, private food standards, supply chain coordination, and sustainable agricultural intensification, with a particular focus on their impact on low- and middle-income countries. Her work specifically addresses pro-poor growth, market access, food security, gender issues, and empowerment in rural development processes. As head of the Division of Bioeconomics, she leads interdisciplinary collaborative research addressing multiple dimensions of sustainability, working with research institutes worldwide, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Her significant academic influence is reflected in her extensive publication record, having been cited over 6,900 times in academic literature.