Silvia Secchi is a professor in the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Science at the University of Iowa. She holds a PhD in economics from Iowa State University. Her work focuses on the interface between agriculture and the environment, particularly water and carbon, and the role of policy in addressing environmental impacts of crop and livestock production in industrialized systems. Her geographical research focus area is the Corn Belt. Her current research is assessing the role of agricultural federal and state policies in promoting (and impeding) social, environmental and economic sustainability in the region. She is a co-Principal Investigator in the NIFA-funded #DiverseCornBelt project.