Courtland Kelly, Ph.D., is a food and agriculture systems researcher with expertise in soil carbon, sustainable/regenerative practices, and on-farm emissions accounting. Her research focuses on evaluating the carbon and ecosystem benefits of food system interventions. At Project Drawdown, she is researching the potential climate and environmental health benefits of large food system transition.
Courtland has more than 10 years of experience in soils research and science communication in the academic, national lab, nonprofit and private sectors. Previously, she directed research to support soil carbon credit programs at a global agri-food company. She has also worked directly with farmers and government agencies to conduct applied soil health and ecology research, including quantifying soil biological communities and how they interact with plant roots.
Courtland holds a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University and a B.A. in Biology from Harvard University. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and biking to enjoy beautiful natural landscapes, especially in Colorado, where she lives.