Dr Raquel M. Balanay | Philippines

Dr Raquel M. Balanay is an agricultural economist who works as a researcher and faculty member of the College of Agriculture and Agri-industries at Caraga State University, Ampayon, Butuan City, Philippines; and as a Director of the Caraga Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development.

Her background is in agricultural marketing (particularly in price analysis), supply chain analysis and quantitative impact evaluation. More recently Raquel has focussed upon circular economy applications undertaking formal training and gaining experience through research collaborations.

 A maths lover from an early age, Raquel became interested in agricultural economics because it involved lots of algebra! At the time she didn’t know that her interest would lead to a research career looking at economic issues that compound some of the biggest welfare problems faced by her country. These days Raquel’s work is motivated by a desire to uplift the economic prospects of people and communities.

Raquel commenced tertiary studies at Central Mindanao University, Musuan, Bukidnon where she completed both a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics. In 2011, Raquel was awarded her doctoral degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Philippines-Los Baños (UPLB),

Raquel is a lifetime member of the Gamma Sigma Delta Honor Society of Agriculture-UPLB Chapter and is a fellow of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) and the Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future (SFFF).

She received scholarships from the Economic Modelling School (EcoMod), the Netherlands Fellowship Program (NFP), the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), the International Mining for Development Center (IM4DC), SFFF and SEARCA for her non-degree training in economic analysis, impact evaluation and circular economy, which took her to places to learn more for her interests.