Success Stories: Advancing Food Security Through Smarter Land Use: EB2-NIW Approved for Agricultural Economist Shaping Sustainable Policy

Case Summary:   

We are pleased to announce the EB2-NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval of a policy-driven agricultural economist from Turkey, whose groundbreaking work in land use optimization is helping shape agricultural resilience in the United States and globally. Through an innovative mix of academic research, government leadership, and cross-border agricultural collaboration, this researcher has made significant contributions to sustainability, food security, and environmental conservation.

Solving the Puzzle of Land, Food, and Policy

At the core of the client’s research is a mission to develop and implement strategies that optimize agricultural land use, balancing demands from food production, industry, and settlement growth, while addressing challenges such as land fragmentation and climate change. His proposed endeavor targets critical intersections of:

● Sustainable agriculture and food policy
● Farmland preservation
● Climate-adaptive land planning
● Rural economic development

As a scholar-practitioner, he integrates the rigor of peer-reviewed research with extensive policy experience, including collaboration with international institutions and agricultural ministries.

A Career Dedicated to National and Global Impact

The client has authored 9 peer-reviewed journal articles, 22 conference papers, and 5 books, with 7 first-authored journal publications and 174 total citations to date. Notably, one of his articles—on reducing agricultural land fragmentation—was published in Land Use Policy, a top-ranked journal in urban studies and planning with an impact factor of 7.1, and is among the top 10% most cited papers in Agricultural Sciences for its publication year.

This body of work is not only cited globally but also directly informs:

● Legal frameworks on land inheritance
● Farmland zoning and optimization in rural regions
● Economic strategies for smallholder productivity

His most influential research includes:

● A national survey on farmland fragmentation, cited in Turkish land law reforms.
● An economic analysis of agricultural basins, guiding regional crop planning.
● Policy evaluations of rural land use help balance urbanization and agricultural needs.

Endorsed by National Leaders in Agricultural Development

A former university president and international advisor testified to the scope of the client’s influence, stating:

“He coordinated landmark projects that shaped Turkey’s agricultural strategy… His survey-based analysis reached over 50,000 farmers and became the backbone of national reform. His insight was crucial in reforming the Soil Conservation and Land Use Law.”

The recommender also emphasized the client’s cross-national leadership, including a regional innovation project across Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, conducted with the support of the FAO.

Bridging Research and Policy Implementation

The client has contributed at all levels—academia, government, and international development. He led policy-shaping research such as the:

● “Fragmentation of Agricultural Lands Through Inheritance Project,” which supported legislative reform to prohibit unsustainable field divisions.
● “Deep Analysis of the Agricultural Sector Project,” incorporating input from 50,000 farmers to guide strategic planning for national agricultural policy.
● “Agricultural Innovation and Capacity Development Project,” a multi-country collaboration under the FAO.

His empirical and policy studies have shaped land preservation strategies, rural investment policies, and agricultural insurance reforms, with a wide-ranging impact on national sustainability efforts.

A Vision for U.S. Agricultural Sustainability

The petition received a Request for Evidence (RFE), which was successfully addressed by emphasizing the client’s:

● Peer-reviewed impact and citation benchmarks
● Legislative and regulatory influence
● Alignment with U.S. priorities in sustainable land use and food security

His planned research in the U.S. will focus on increasing farm income, improving farmer welfare, and reducing production costs through better land use policies, directly addressing current agricultural policy challenges and climate adaptation needs.

Approval Highlights National Significance

This EB2-NIW petition presented a compelling case of academic merit, national impact, and global policy leadership.

We are honored to support policy visionaries like this client—individuals whose deep understanding of land use economics translates into strategies that nourish people, preserve ecosystems, and strengthen food systems at a national scale. His work in agricultural economics stands as a model of how research and reform can work hand-in-hand to shape a more sustainable future.