Sieg Snapp

Sieg Snapp’s research has shattered misconceptions about soil carbon on small farms, proving that farmers can increase soil organic matter, for a win-win in climate adaptation and mitigation. A professor of soils and cropping systems ecology at Michigan State University for over two decades, and currently Director of the Sustainable Agrifood Systems program at the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), Sieg is a pioneer in amplifying farmer voice and improving the relevance of scientific investigations. The tools she developed have been widely adopted, including research approaches such as the ‘mother and baby’ trial design. From agricultural decision guides to regenerative agriculture, Sieg Snapp has partnered with civil society, public and private sector to support the poorest resourced farmers on the planet. She has shown that wicked sustainability challenges can be tackled, by bringing together transdisciplinary teams at the cutting edge of crop genetics, soils and applied economics.