Hale A. Tufan
Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Breeding and Genetics Section
Hale Ann Tufan is an associate professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science with an adjunct appointment in the Department of Global Development at Cornell University. In her work with plant breeders, social scientists, and research institutions, Tufan explores how agricultural research processes and outputs can positively contribute to gender equality and social inclusion. Through her research to develop methods and approaches she enables gender+ analysis in agricultural innovation, while advocating for inclusive agricultural research by challenging power and norms in the research ecosystem.
Tufan serves in leadership positions of several grant-funded projects aimed at food security, crop improvement, seed systems, and gender relations. She is currently the priority setting co-lead of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement, principal investigator of the Gender Responsive Researchers Equipped for Agricultural Transformation (GREAT) project, principal investigator of Muhogo Bora: Cassava for All, survey division lead of NextGen Cassava, and gender research lead of the Feed the Future Insect-Resistant Eggplant Partnership.
Tufan brings a multidisciplinary background to her research spanning Ph.D.-level research in molecular plant pathogen interactions, plant breeding with CIMMYT, international agricultural research for development program management, and gender research and capacity development across sub-Saharan Africa.
Tufan is the 2019 recipient of the Norman Borlaug Field Award. She completed her Ph.D. in molecular biology from the John Innes Centre, UK.
Research Focus
Tufan’s research program examines how agricultural research processes and outputs can positively contribute to gender equality and social inclusion. Her research is focused in three primary areas:
1. Frameworks and approaches for inclusive crop improvement
Tufan critically interrogates systemic norms and power in crop improvement with the intended outcome developing programs that are inclusive and equitable. Her work explores the role of social identities — gender, age, education, and more — in the design and adoption of agricultural innovations.
2. Innovative tools and methods that integrate plant breeding and gender research
Tufan’s work centers on developing, testing and implementing participatory and interdisciplinary research approaches in crop improvement research, such as adoption of crop varieties and differences in trait preferences. Her focus on a gender and social difference analysis integrates social identities and household characteristics that interact with gender to shape trait preferences and determine the success of new varieties.
3. Intrahousehold dynamics, social norms and gender relations in seed systems
With attention to gender roles, relations, and inequities to technological uptake, Tufan seeks to understand how intrahousehold dynamics shape crop trait preferences, varietal adoption and seed systems, and how individuals within households experience benefits from technology adoption.
Selected Publications
2026
Moghe, G. D., Zimić-Sheen, A., Chen, D., Yadav, G., Cao, G., Tufan, H., Williams, J., et al. (2026). Reimagining plant science training in the era of generative artificial intelligence: a global perspective. The Plant Cell, 38(6), koag140. https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koag140
Yi, J., Prieto, J., Garner, E., & Tufan, H. A. (2026). According to whom? Spousal, household, and plot differences in improved cassava variety adoption in Nigeria. Plants, People, Planet. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10721
Herrighty, E. M., Specht, C. D., Gore, M. A., Solano, L., Estrada-Gamboa, J., et al. (2026). Genomic sampling and population structure of farmer-maintained varieties reveal previously uncharacterized diversity of Theobroma cacao L. in Costa Rica. bioRxiv, 2026.03.30.715340. https://doi.org/10.1101/2026.03.30.715340
Occelli, M., Kumar, K., Gomez, M., Hoddinott, J., & Tufan, H. A. (2026). Technology exposure and adoption over time: Lessons from Bt Eggplant in Bangladesh. Agricultural Economics, 57(1), e70064. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.12812
2025
Farmer, E. E., D. Brown, M. A. Gore, & H. A. Tufan (2025). Applying large language models to extract information from crop trait prioritization studies. Plants, People, Planet, 8(1), 176-184. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10654
Brown, D., & H. A. Tufan (2025). AI‐based data synthesis of crop trait prioritization studies. Crop Science, 65(6), e70198. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21342
Ashby, J. A., V. Polar, & H. A. Tufan (2025). Gender-intentional breeding case studies. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1612865. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1612865
Tufan, H. A., V. Polar, & J. A. Ashby (2025). Gender intentional crop breeding: from integration to institutional innovation. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1612888. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1612888
Owoade, D., O. Olaosebikan, A. Bello, P. Kulakow, E. Parkes, R. Olajide, et al. (2025). Examining gendered cassava trait preferences through commercial seed business: a case study of IITA GoSeed and Umudike Seeds in Nigeria. Frontiers in Sociology, 9, 1258723. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2025.1258723
Tarjem, I., L. Del Duca, H. Tufan, S. Savilaakso, L. Errington, J. Porciello, et al. (2025). Mapping Definitions of Management and Leadership in Capacity Development in Africa’s Agrifood Systems: A Systematic Map Protocol. protocolRxiv, 20250226640. https://doi.org/10.26434/protocolrxiv.20250226640
Amaefula, C., T. A. Setotaw, J. O. Okoronkwo, U. Chijioke, L. C. Ezenwaka, et al. (2025). Assessing genetic variation, genotype‐environment interactions, and genomic prediction for cassava garri quality. Crop Science, 65(3), e70032. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21255
Njuki, J., H. Ann Tufan, V. Polar, H. Campos, & M. Morgan-Bell (2025). Correction to: Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture. Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture: Revisiting Theory and Practice, C1-C1. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51200-1_15
Gwandu, F. B., M. L. Liani, H. R. Masunga, V. E. Mbise, N. M. Meibuko, A. Ng'adoa, et al. (2025). Strengthening the capacity of agricultural extension agents towards supporting an inclusive and sustainable cassava seed system in Tanzania. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Research Report. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2025.01
Njuki, J., H. A. Tufan, V. Polar, H. Campos, & M. Morgan-Bell (2025). Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture. Springer Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51200-1
2024
Johnson, Q., & H. A. Tufan (2024). Who Cares? Care Responsibilities of Faculty in Plant Breeding Related Fields in the US. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. https://doi.org/10.2134/abstracts2024.154232
H. A. Tufan, & L. Mayor (2024). Equitable Crop Improvement? Reflections from the Workplace to the Field Oral. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. https://doi.org/10.2134/abstracts2024.154804
Brown, D., & H. A. Tufan (2024). Enabling Equitable Crop Variety Trait Prioritization Processes Using AI. ASA, CSSA, SSSA International Annual Meeting. https://doi.org/10.2134/abstracts2024.155101
Njuki, J., H. A. Tufan, V. Polar, H. Campos, M. Morgan-Bell, & V. Wilde (2024). Introduction: The Politics of Gender and Agriculture. Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture: Revisiting Theory and Practice, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51200-1_1
Njuki, J., H. A. Tufan, V. Polar, & H. Campos (2024). Critical reflections towards re-politicizing gender in agriculture. Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture: Revisiting Theory and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51200-1_2
H. A. Tufan, A. Sidle, & K. Kintzi (2024). Let’s Talk About Land: A Tale of Two Narratives in Gender and Agricultural Development. Gender, Power and Politics in Agriculture: Revisiting Theory and Practice, 15-38. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51200-1_3
Nanyonjo, A. R., S. Angudubo, P. Iragaba, D. Brown, E. Nuwamanya, et al. (2024). On‐farm evaluation of cassava clones using the triadic comparison of technology options approach. Crop Science, 64(5), 2679-2697. https://doi.org/10.1002/csc2.21288
Porciello, J., V. Skidan, R. Ambikapathi, B Boonabaana, J. Guerra, P. Lidder, et al. (2024). The state of the field for research on agrifood systems. Juno Reports, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.5555/juno.2024.01
Occelli, M., E. Compaore, D. Brown, F. Barry, L. S. Poda, F. Traore, A. Waongo, et al. (2024). Ex-ante priority setting in crop breeding: Towards inclusive innovation for impact. Agricultural Systems, 217, 103952. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2024.103952
Mangheni, M. N., H. A. Tufan, & E. Asiimwe (2024). The gender-responsive plant breeding course (level 2). CABI Detailed Training Materials. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800624441.0001
Occelli, M., R. Mukerjee, C. Miller, J. Porciello, S. Puerto, E. Garner, M. Guerra, et al. (2024). A scoping review on tools and methods for trait prioritization in crop breeding programmes. Nature Plants, 10(3), 402-411. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-024-01642-1
De Sousa, K., J. van Etten, R. Manners, E. Abidin, R. O. Abdulmalik, B. Abolore, et al. (2024). The tricot approach: an agile framework for decentralized on-farm testing supported by citizen science. A retrospective. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, 44(1), 8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13593-023-00939-2
Katungi, E., H. A. Tufan, & R. Isoto (2024). Detailed Training Materials: Session 5: Gendered value chains, market segmentation, and customer profiling for breeding programs. CABI International. https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800624441.0005
Teeken, B., O. Olaosebikan, A. Bello, T. Madu, F. Okeakpu, D. Njoku, et al. (2024). Adopting scalable participatory variety selection (Tricot) for on-farm testing in Nigeria: enhancing social and gender impact in breeding. IITA Research Series. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2024.02
2023
Mukerjee, R., N. F. Faye, M. J. Badji, M. Gomez, D. Rubin, H. A. Tufan, & M. Occelli (2023). Intra-household discrete choice experiment for trait preferences: a new method. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1257076. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1257076
Polar, V., J. A. Ashby, & H. A. Tufan (2023). How can gender research trigger changes to influence breeding priorities. International Potato Center Briefing. https://doi.org/10.4160/cip.2023.05
Teeken, B., M. Occelli, K. Sousa, J. Heerwaarden, T. Madu, S. Onwuka, et al. (2023). Scaled citizen science participatory variety selection provides socially inclusive feedback to the cassava breeding in Nigeria and opens the way to empower women and men crop farmers. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2023.03
Liani, M. L., S. M. Cole, E. Hillenbrand, K. Mtunda, C. Egesi, & H. A. Tufan (2023). Designing gender-transformative interventions in the commercialized cassava seed system in Tanzania. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2023.04
Occelli, M., D. Rubin, & H. A. Tufan (2023). Crowdsourcing priorities: a new participatory ex-ante framework for crop improvement. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1265109. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1265109
Liani, M. L., S. M. Cole, D. F. Mwakanyamale, L. Baumung, N. Saleh, A. Webber, et al. (2023). Uneven ground? Intersectional gender inequalities in the commercialized cassava seed system in Tanzania. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1155769. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1155769
Cullen, B., K. A. Snyder, D. Rubin, & H. A. Tufan (2023). ‘They think we are delaying their outputs’. The challenges of interdisciplinary research: understanding power dynamics between social and biophysical scientists in agricultural R4D. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1250709. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1250709
Tarjem, I. A., & H. A. Tufan (2023). The men who feed the world? Putting masculinities on the agenda for crop breeding research for development. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1243217. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2023.1243217
Frimpong, B. N., B. O. Asante, M. D. Asante, S. J. Ayeh, B. Sakyiamah, E. Nchanji, et al. (2023). Identification of gendered trait preferences among Rice producers using the G+ breeding tools: implications for Rice improvement in Ghana. Sustainability, 15(11), 8462. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118462
Olaosebikan, O., A. Bello, O. Utoblo, B. Okoye, N. Olutegbe, E. Garner, et al. (2023). Stressors and resilience within the cassava value chain in Nigeria: preferred cassava variety traits and response strategies of men and women to inform breeding. Sustainability, 15(10), 7837. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107837
Van Etten, J., K. De Sousa, J. E. Cairns, M. Dell’Acqua, C. Fadda, D. Guereña, et al. (2023). Data-driven approaches can harness crop diversity to address heterogeneous needs for breeding products. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(14), e2205771120. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2205771120
Asante, B. O., B. N. Frimpong, M. D. Asante, S. Prah, S. J. Ayeh, B. Sakyiamah, et al. (2023). Exploring gender differences in the role of trait preferences among stakeholders in the rice value chain in Ghana. Sustainability, 15(7), 6026. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076026
Teeken, B., O. Olaosebikan, A. Bello, T. Madu, S. Onwuka, B. Okoye, K. Sousa, et al. (2023). Towards social impact in breeding: tricot, processing diagnostics and the G+ tools. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2023.07
Teeken, B., O. Olaosebikan, A. Bello, H. A. Tufan, M. Occelli, E. Garner, et al. (2023). Socioeconomics in tricot: Presentation in 1000Farms project meeting in Montpellier, France, 25-28 September 2023. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2023.08
Omoigui, L. O., A. Kamara, T. Iorlamen, I. Muhammed, & C. O. Ojiewo (2023). Strengthening cowpea seed systems to increase the productivity of smallholder farmers in west Africa. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4160/iita.2023.09