UTIA Professor Andrew Muhammad Wins 2026 Hildreth Public Policy Award

Award recognizes distinguished lifetime contributions to public policy

• Bonnie Johnson
• June 19, 2026
• Media Article

Andrew Muhammad of UTIA received the 2026 R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award for his distinguished contributions to agricultural policy, trade analysis, and global food demand research.

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Andrew Muhammad, a professor of agricultural and resource economics and the Blasingame Chair of Excellence in Agricultural Policy at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA), has been named the 2026 recipient of the R.J. Hildreth Public Policy Award from the Farm Foundation.
 

The award recognizes distinguished lifetime contributions to public policy in areas such as government service, education, and agricultural research, and was presented on June 16,2026, at the Farm Foundation’s roundtable meeting in St. Louis.
 

The Farm Foundation, an independent organization with a long history, connects leaders in agriculture, policy, and academia to address key challenges facing the food and agriculture sectors. Muhammad is widely recognized for his work in trade analysis, global food demand, and the competitiveness of U.S. and Tennessee agricultural exports, along with his broader expertise in agricultural policy.
 

Since joining UTIA in 2018, he has developed a strong record in research, teaching, and outreach. Prior to that, he held several leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including associate director of the market and trade economic division and chief of the international demand and trade branch.
 

His achievements have also been recognized with the 2026 UT Chancellor’s Award for National and State Leadership and the 2024 Faculty Global Excellence Award, highlighting his significant impact in agricultural policy and research.
 

Photo by H. Harbin, courtesy UTIA