Sergio Lence
Sergio H. Lence, the Marlin Cole Chair of International Agricultural Economics and a Professor in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University (ISU), is a leading agricultural economist whose work encompasses farmland valuation, risk management, financial markets, biotechnology and intellectual property, and geographically differentiated products. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Lence has published over 80 refereed journal articles and book chapters, including 26 in the American Journal of Agricultural Economics (AJAE), making significant contributions to both research and education in agricultural economics.
Born and raised on a farm in Argentina, Lence earned his Agricultural Engineering degree from the Universidad de Buenos Aires before completing his M.S. and Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics at ISU. His research is driven by a deep commitment to understanding and addressing the economic challenges facing agricultural producers, markets, and policies.
Lence has been at the forefront of economic research, providing influential insights into financial risk management in agriculture, market efficiency, and the impact of policy interventions. He has published in leading academic journals, including AJAE, the European Review of Agricultural Economics (ERAE), Agricultural Economics, and the Journal of Finance. His research has been widely recognized, receiving awards such as the 2016 Outstanding ERAE Journal Article Award from the European Association of Agricultural Economists and the 2018 Best Article in Agricultural Economics from the International Association of Agricultural Economists.
A leader in his field, Lence has played a pivotal role in advancing agricultural risk modeling, particularly in futures and options markets, farm programs, and land values. His research on price volatility, yield risks, and financial market behavior has provided valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders. In 2022, he received the Publication of Lasting Impact Award from the Agricultural Finance and Management Section of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association for his research on the effects of U.S. farm programs on cash rents, highlighting the enduring influence of his scholarship.
Beyond research, Lence is a dedicated educator, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in agricultural finance, applied marketing, economic principles, and financial economics at ISU. He was an early advocate and pioneer of international study programs at ISU, designing an innovative course in 1999 that compares agricultural industries in the U.S. and selected countries. Since then, he has led study abroad programs to Argentina, Australia, and Spain almost every year, providing students with firsthand exposure to production agriculture, agribusinesses, and agricultural markets in those countries. These efforts have significantly contributed to ISU’s globalization initiatives and the internationalization of its economics curriculum. Additionally, Lence has directed ISU’s Dean’s Global Ag and Food Leadership Program at the Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome, where top undergraduate students collaborate on agricultural and food policy projects. In recognition of his excellence in teaching, he received ISU’s James Huntington Ellis Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Introductory Teaching in 2017.
Throughout his career, Lence has remained deeply engaged with the agricultural economics profession. He has served as an associate editor for AJAE, the Journal of Futures Markets, and the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. He currently serves on the editorial board of Applied Economics Perspectives and Policy and as an associate editor of both Agribusiness: An International Journal and of Agricultural Economics. Acknowledging his distinguished service, ISU presented him with the International Service Award in 2019 and the Regents Award for Faculty Excellence in 2022.