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Meghann N. Smith, a Ph.D. candidate in the Doctoral Program in Environmental Science and Management, defends her dissertation.

About Meghann

Her dissertation research investigates the burgeoning hard apple cider industry in the US Northeast from a sustainable management perspective. Her research explores the producer-consumer relationship through survey analyses, and uses environmental and economic impact assessment techniques to gain a holistic view on hard apple cider to support sustainable growth and rural development.

Ms. Smith performed this research under her advisor, Dr. Pankaj Lal, within the Clean Energy and Sustainability Analytics Center (CESAC). She had previously studied for her Master’s in Food Science & Nutrition under Dr. Douglas Murray at Montclair State University, and received her Bachelor’s in Nutrition from University of Arizona. 

About the Dissertation

The dissertation examines the sustainability of the hard apple cider industry in the US Northeast. The work focuses on (1) identifying the relationship between farmers’ values, beliefs, and norms and their likelihood to utilize sustainable apple orchard management practices, (2) identifying a hierarchal relationship amongst sustainability attributes for hard apple cider, and the added value associated with those benefits, (3) quantifying the emissions and environmental impacts associated with hard apple cider production, and assessing the lifetime socio-economic costs, and (4) assessing the environmental and economic uncertainties of hard apple cider production, and identifying management strategies to address the associated risks.

Dissertation Committee

• Dr. Pankaj Lal, Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Studies (Chair)
• Dr. Yang Deng, Professor, Department of Earth and Environmental Studies
• Dr. Neeraj Vedwan, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology
• Dr. Andrew Smith, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Scientist, Rodale Institute