DE (Daniel) Mason-D'Croz MA

Daniel Mason-D’Croz is a Senior Research Associate at Cornell University’s Department of Global Development, and a PhD candidate in Agricultural Economics and Rural Policy in Wageningen University. He is returned U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, and a development economist and economic modeler by background, specializing in the use of anticipatory and foresight methods to systematically engage with future uncertainty to inform and improve decisionmaking processes. Prior to joining Cornell University, he was a Senior Research Scientist for Australia’s National Science Agency (CSIRO) leading work on foresight modelling of the Australian and Global food systems.

He applies mixed qualitative and quantitative approaches to better understand the complexity of global and regional food systems. His research focuses on identifying key challenges and opportunities to promoting healthier and more environmentally sustainable food systems. His work is characterized by its transdisciplinary nature, leveraging participatory and collaborative research to deliver high impact research. Recent work has included exploring the potential disruptions of extreme events like the outbreak of African Swine Fever in China, the role of R&D investments in promoting agricultural productivity in Africa, the potential impact of both climate change and climate mitigation on food security, assessing the transformative potential of food systems technologies, as well as the potential of alternative diets to promote both healthier and more sustainable food systems.

He has co-authored more than 50 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and monographs and has actively contributed to global assessments such as IPCC reports (1.5/2C and Climate Change and Land), AgMIP (Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project), FABLE (Food, Agriculture, Biodiversity, Land-use and Energy) consortium, and the EAT-Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems. He has also contributed to informing policymaking in the form of priority setting exercises for CGIAR, DFAT (Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), CSIRO, and in regional policymaking in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa, and South and Southeast Asia.