Eden Kinkaid (they/them) is a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Arizona. Eden’s research is broadly concerned with changing geographies of food and agriculture, with a particular focus on sustainable agriculture. Eden has conducted ethnographic fieldwork on issues of agrarian change, agricultural development, and the shift to organic agriculture in Uttarakhand, India. Eden’s most recent research focuses on the impacts of COVID-19 on Tucson’s food system. In addition to these projects, Eden pursues a variety of interests in human geography through their research and writing, including geographic research methods, queer and feminist geographies, geographic education, and geographic theory.

Their work centers on food systems and food culture in Tucson and southern Arizona. Eden’s dissertation research examines how various actors are leveraging Tucson’s food culture and food heritage in projects of economic and community development. Additionally, they are a member of the UA Food Systems Research Lab and have contributed to the 2020-2021 Center for Regional Food Studies State of the Tucson Food System Report on the impacts of Covid-19 on southern Arizona’s local food system. The CRFS Student Research Award has supported them as they conclude their qualitative fieldwork in Tucson.

For more about Eden’s research, visit their website, follow them on Twitter (@queergeog), or email them at ekinkaid@email.arizona.edu.