Welcome to my personal website!😊 You can reach me at weitong.long@outlook.com 📧. You can find my full and efficient Curriculum Vitae here. You can find my Curriculum Vitae in Chinese here. For a full list of my publications, please check Google Scholar.

I am Weitong Long (龙维桐). With over 7+ years of experience as an interdisciplinary quantitative researcher, I specialise in integrated environmental-economic modelling and environmental impact assessment of food systems. My expertise lies in applying quantitative modelling approaches to explore mitigation options towards sustainable food systems. My PhD dissertation focuses on assessing the impacts of food system transformation options—such as supply-side and demand-side measures, and environmental policies—at the regional, national, and global levels. I employ an integrated environmental-economic modelling approach based on the general equilibrium framework that is able to represent regional consumption, production, environmental variables, and international trade with other regions.

I got my PhD in Environmental Economics from Wageningen University & Research in Wageningen, the Netherlands, in January 2026. During my PhD, I was supervised by Associate Prof. Dr. Xueqin Zhu, Associate Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Weikard, Prof. Dr. Oene Oenema from Wageningen University & Research, as well as Prof. Dr. Yong Hou from China Agricultural university. I conducted one-year research as a visiting PhD student at China Agricultural University in Beijing, China, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Yong Hou from September 2020 to September 2021. Additionally, I conducted four-month research as a visiting PhD student at University of California, Davis in Davis, the United States, under the supervision of Assistant Prof. Dr. Luis M. Peña-Lévano from October 2024 to January 2025.

Recently, I was awarded the Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship at Peking University in Beijing, China, where I will continue my work on general equilibrium modelling of food systems from April 2026 onwards. Building on my doctoral research, I will work closely with Associate Prof. Dr. Hancheng Dai to further develop my modelling framework by incorporating a human health dimension, advancing the assessment of co-benefits across food, environment, and health systems.

🎀 Research Interests

Sustainable food systems, food-land-climate nexus, and climate mitigation 🍽️🐾🌎
Integrated environmental-economic modelling of food systems 💻
Environmental impact assessment of food systems 🧩

🔥 News

2026.07: 💬 An oral presentation to be delivered at the 2026 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting (Kansas, the United States).
2026.06: 💬 An oral presentation to be delivered at the 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE) (Carcavelos, Portugal).
2026.06: 💬 An oral presentation to be delivered at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) 2026 World Conference (Cork, Ireland).
2026.06: 💬 A poster presentation to be delivered at the Land Management for Sustainability (LAMASUS) Summer School (Laxenburg, Austria).
2026.01: 🎓 Beyond grateful to receive my PhD today! This journey has been a rollercoaster of challenges and triumphs, but every hurdle has led to this moment. Huge thanks to my supervisors, colleagues, family, and friends for their unwavering support. 🎉🥳
2025.12: 💰 Awarded for the Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship at Peking University in Beijing, China.
2025.09: 🎉 One first-authored research briefing published and featured on the cover of Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF= 21.9): Upcycling of food waste and food processing by-products into animal feed is not a panacea.
2025.08: 🎉 One first-authored research article published in Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF= 21.9): Rebound effects may undermine the benefits of upcycling food waste and food processing by-products as animal feed in China.
2025.08: 💬 A poster presentation delivered at the XVIII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress (Bonn, Germany).
2025.02: 💬 An oral presentation delivered at the 4th Dutch Environmental and Resource Economics (DEARE) Day workshop) (Wageningen, the Netherlands).
2024.10: 😊 Started my four-month research as a visiting PhD student at School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis in Davis, the United States.
2024.09: 🎉 One first-authored research article published in Sustainable Production and Consumption (SCI & SSCI Q1; IF=9.6): Exploring sustainable food system transformation options in China: An integrated environmental-economic modelling approach based on the applied general equilibrium framework.
2024.07: 💰 Awarded for the Junior Researcher Grant from Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) for the four-month of research at University of California, Davis (Davis, the United States) (4,000 €; PI).
2024.07: 💬 An oral presentation delivered at the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) 29th Annual Conference (Leuven, Belgium).
2024.06: 💬 An oral presentation delivered at the III Economy for The Common Good International Conference (ECGIC) (Leeuwarden, Fryslân, the Netherlands).
2023.08: 💬 A poster presentation delivered at the XVII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress (Rennes, France).
2023.07: 💬 An oral presentation delivered at the EAERE Summer School (University of Graz, Graz, Austria).
2023.06: 💰 Awarded for the Travel Grant from the LEB Travel Fund to participate in the XVII EAAE Congress (750 €; PI).
2022.12: 🎉 One co-authored research article published in Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF= 21.9): Lower pork consumption and technological change in feed production can reduce the pork supply chain environmental footprint in China.
2022.07: 🎉 One second-authored research article published in Animal Feed Science and Technology (SCI Q1; IF=2.7): Dietary acidifiers as an alternative to antibiotics for promoting pig growth performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
2021.04: 🎉 One first-authored research article published in Environmental Science & Technology (SCI Q1; IF=11.3): Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Footprints for China’s Pig Production Using Different Land Use Strategies.
2020.12: 💰 Awarded for the PhD Full Scholarship from China Scholarship Council (CSC) for PhD study and Research Grant from the Sino-Dutch Agriculture Green Development (AGD) PhD program (8,300 €; PI) for data collection at Wageningen University & Research in Wageningen, the Netherlands.
2020.08: 🏆 Awarded for the Excellent Master’s Degree Thesis from the Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertiliser Science (Awarded to the Top 1% best master thesis in China).
2020.02: 🎉 One second-authored research article published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment (SCI Q1; IF=6.4): Can dietary manipulations improve the productivity of pigs with lower environmental and economic cost? A global meta-analysis.

💼 Work Experiences

College of Environment Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
2026.04 - 2028.03 (expected) Postdoctoral Researcher with the Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship

Supervisor: Associate Prof. Dr. Hancheng Dai

📖 Education

Wageningen School of Social Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
2020.09 - 2026.01 PhD Candidate of Economics in Environmental Economics and Natural Resources

Supervisor: Associate Prof. Dr. Xueqin Zhu, Associate Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Weikard, Prof. Dr. Oene Oenema, and Prof. Dr. Yong Hou
Program: The Sino-Dutch Agriculture Green Development (AGD) PhD program
Dissertation: Towards a sustainable food system in China: insights from an integrated environmental-economic modelling approach

School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, the United States
2024.10 - 2025.01 Visiting PhD Student

Supervisor: Assistant Prof. Dr. Luis M. Peña-Lévano

College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
2020.09 - 2021.08 Visiting PhD Student
2018.09 - 2020.06 Master of Agriculture in Plant Nutrition

Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Yong Hou and Associate Prof. Dr. Hongliang Wang
Dissertation: Nitrogen footprint of China’s pig production and mitigation measures through feed management

College of Resources, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
2014.09 - 2018.06 Bachelor of Agriculture in Agricultural Resources and Environment

Dual Bachelor: Dual Bachelor of Arts in English

👾 Training Courses

Land Management for Sustainability (LAMASUS) Summer School
2026.06 (upcoming) International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria

Course: Advanced modelling techniques for land-use and policy analysis

European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) summer school
2023.07 University of Graz, Graz, Austria

Course: Transnational and Cascading Climate Risks and Adaptation

Dynamic General Equilibrium Modelling Course
2021.07 Victoria University & University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China

Course: CHINAGEM, A Monash-Styled Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Model of China

📝 Publications

⭐Citations (Google Scholar: May 6, 2026): Total=359; H-index=8; I-10=7

1️⃣Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (First Author):

Nature Food

Long, W., Zhu, X. (2025). Upcycling of food waste and food processing by-products into animal feed is not a panacea. In: Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF=21.9; Featured Research Briefing), 6(9), 835–836. DOI: 10.1038/s43016-025-01235-7.
Long, W., Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (2025). Rebound effects may undermine the benefits of upcycling food waste and food processing by-products as animal feed in China. In: Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF=21.9; Research Article), 6(9), 881–891. DOI: 10.1038/s43016-025-01219-7.

Sustainable Production and Consumption

Long, W., Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (2024). Exploring sustainable food system transformation options in China: An integrated environmental-economic modelling approach based on the applied general equilibrium framework. In: Sustainable Production and Consumption (SCI & SSCI Q1; IF=9.6), 51, 42-54. DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2024.09.004

Environmental Science & Technology

Long, W., Wang, H., Hou, Y., Chadwick, D., Ma, Y., Cui, Z., & Zhang, F. (2021). Mitigation of Multiple Environmental Footprints for China’s Pig Production Using Different Land Use Strategies. In: Environmental Science & Technology (SCI Q1; IF=11.3), 55(8), 4440-4451. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c08359

2️⃣Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles (Other):

Tan, M., Hou, Y., Zhang, T., Ma, Y., Long, W., Gao, C., … & Oenema, O. (2023). Relationships between livestock density and soil phosphorus contents–County and farm level analyses. In: Catena (SCI Q1; IF=5.7), 222, 106817. DOI: 10.1016/j.catena.2022.106817
Tan, M., Hou, Y., Zhang, L., Shi, S., Long, W., Ma, Y., … & Oenema, O. (2023). Decision-making environment of low-protein animal feeding in dairy and poultry farms in China. In: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems (SCI Q3; IF=2.7), 127(1), 85-96. DOI: 10.1007/s10705-023-10295-9
Tan, M., Hou, Y., Zhang, L., Shi, S., Long, W., Ma, Y., … & Oenema, O. (2022). Nutrient use efficiency of intensive dairy farms in China–Current situation and analyses of options for improvement. In: Agricultural Systems (SCI Q1; IF=6.1), 203, 103495. DOI: 10.1016/j.agsy.2022.103495
Tong, B., Zhang, L., Hou, Y., Oenema, O., Long, W., Velthof, G. L., … & Zhang, F. (2022). Lower pork consumption and technological change in feed production can reduce the pork supply chain environmental footprint in China. In: Nature Food (SCI Q1; IF=21.9), 1-10. DOI: 10.1038/s43016-022-00640-6
Ma, Y., Hou, Y., Dong, P., Velthof, G. L., Long, W., Ma, L., … & Oenema, O. (2022). Cooperation between specialized livestock and crop farms can reduce environmental footprints and increase net profits in livestock production. In: Journal of Environmental Management (SCI Q1; IF=8.4), 302, 113960. DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113960
Wang, H., Long, W., Chadwick, D., Zhang, X., Zhang, S., Piao, X., & Hou, Y. (2022). Dietary acidifiers as an alternative to antibiotics for promoting pig growth performance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. In: Animal Feed Science and Technology (SCI Q1; IF=2.7), 115320. DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2022.115320
Tan, M., Hou, Y., Zhang, L., Shi, S., Long, W., Ma, Y., … & Oenema, O. (2021). Operational costs and neglect of end-users are the main barriers to improving manure treatment in intensive livestock farms. In: Journal of Cleaner Production (SCI Q1; IF=10.0), 289, 125149. DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.125149
Wang, H., Long, W., Chadwick, D., Velthof, G. L., Oenema, O., Ma, W., … & Zhang, F. (2020). Can dietary manipulations improve the productivity of pigs with lower environmental and economic cost? A global meta-analysis. In: Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment (SCI Q1; IF=6.4), 289, 106748. DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2019.106748

📜 Working Papers

Long, W., Zhu, X., Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M., Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (2026). Emission leakages through trade-induced land use changes may undermine the emission mitigation effectiveness of dietary shifting and afforestation policy in China. [Full paper available upon request].

💬 Conference Presentations

^*indicates presenter

Long, W., Zhu, X., Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M.^*, Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (07/2026, upcoming). Emission leakages through trade-induced land use changes may undermine the emission mitigation effectiveness of dietary shifting and afforestation policy in China. An oral presentation to be delivered at the 2026 Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting, Kansas City, MO, the United States.
Long, W., Zhu, X.^*, Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M., Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (06/2026, upcoming). Emission leakages through trade-induced land use changes may undermine the emission mitigation effectiveness of dietary shifting and afforestation policy in China. An oral presentation to be delivered at the 7th World Congress of Environmental and Resource Economists (WCERE), Carcavelos, Portugal.
Long, W., Zhu, X., Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M.^*, Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (06/2026, upcoming). Emission leakages through trade-induced land use changes may undermine the emission mitigation effectiveness of dietary shifting and afforestation policy in China. An oral presentation to be delivered at the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA) 2026 World Conference, Cork, Ireland.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M., Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (06/2026, upcoming). Emission leakages through trade-induced land use changes may undermine the emission mitigation effectiveness of dietary shifting and afforestation policy in China. A poster presentation to be delivered at the Land Management for Sustainability (LAMASUS) Summer School, International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria.
Long, W., Zhu, X., Hou, Y., Peña-Lévano, L. M.^*, Garcia‐Covarrubias L., Boy, K.-F. (08/2025). Land-use emission leakages from China’s dietary shift and afforestation amplify food insecurity and economic losses under the 2 °C target. A poster presentation delivered at the XVIII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress, Bonn, Germany.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (02/2025). Quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of upcycling low-opportunity-cost feed as animal feed: a general equilibrium approach. An oral presentation delivered at the 4th Dutch Environmental and Resource Economics (DEARE) Day workshop, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (07/2024). Quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of feeding China’s monogastric livestock with food waste: a general equilibrium approach. An oral presentation delivered at the 29th Annual Conference of European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE), Leuven, Belgium.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (06/2024). Quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of feeding China’s monogastric livestock with food waste: a general equilibrium approach. An oral presentation delivered at the III Economy for The Common Good International Conference (ECGIC), Leeuwarden, Fryslân, the Netherlands.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (05/2024). The asymmetric impacts of feeding China’s monogastric livestock with food waste on food security and environment sustainability. An oral presentation delivered at the 9th Sino-Dutch Agriculture Green Development (AGD) Symposium, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (08/2023). Integrated Environmental-economic modelling of sustainable food systems in China. A poster presentation delivered at the XVII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress, Rennes, France.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (07/2023). Integrated Environmental-economic modelling of sustainable food systems in China. An oral presentation delivered at the EAERE Summer School, University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (02/2023). Environmental trade-offs of dietary structure change can be alleviated by cleaner technology and emission restriction. An oral presentation delivered at the 7th Sino-Dutch AGD Symposium, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (10/2022). An environmental-economic framework for assessing the impacts of adjustments in crop and livestock systems. An oral presentation delivered at the Wageningen School of Social Sciences (WASS) PhD Day, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

🎤 Seminar Talks

^*indicates presenter

Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (04/2024). Quantifying the environmental and economic impacts of upcycling food waste in China’s monogastric livestock production: a general equilibrium approach. An oral presentation delivered at the EconMonday Weekly Lunch Seminar, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
(Invited) Long, W. (12/2023). Food system environmental policy analysis and method application. An oral presentation delivered at the Plant Nutrition Weekly Seminar, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China (Online).
Long, W.^*, Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (06/2023). Exploring options for sustainable food systems in China: An integrated environmental-economic modelling approach. An oral presentation delivered at the EconMonday Weekly Lunch seminar, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
Long, W., Zhu, X., Weikard, H.P., Oenema, O., Hou, Y. (11/2022). The global environmental consequences of adjustments in the food systems in China. An oral presentation delivered at the EconMonday Weekly Lunch seminar, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.

🏆 Grants and Awards

2025.12: Boya Postdoctoral Fellowship at Peking University
2024.07: Junior Researcher Grant from WASS for the four-month research at the University of California, Davis (4,000 €; PI)
2023.06: Travel Grant from the LEB Travel Fund to participate in the XVII EAAE Congress (750 €; PI).
2023.02: Honorarium for co-organising the 6th and 7th Sino-Dutch AGD Symposiums (1,000 €; PI)
2021.02: Educational backpack from WASS for taking courses and attending conferences (3,500 €; PI)
2020.12: Research Grant from the Sino-Dutch AGD Program for data collection at Wageningen University & Research (8,300 €; PI)
2020.12: PhD Full Scholarship from China Scholarship Council (CSC) for PhD study at Wageningen University & Research
2020.08: Excellent Master’s Degree Thesis from the Chinese Society of Plant Nutrition and Fertiliser Science (Awarded to the Top 1% best master thesis in China)
2019.10: The First-Class Master Academic Scholarship at China Agricultural University (Top 1%)
2018.11: The First Prize of English Speech Contest at China Agricultural University (Top 1%)
2015.09: The Third Prize of the National English Contest for Chinese College Students (Top 3%)

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience

ENR32806: Economic Modelling of Sustainability Challenges (Master level, 6 ECTS)
2023 & 2024 Spring Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Assisted in teaching ENR32806: Economic Modelling of Sustainability Challenges (Master level, 6 ECTS) with Dr. Xueqin Zhu and Dr. Jack Peerlings
Organised tutorials, provided support to master students with modelling and coding inquiries, and completed grading assignments

ENR22806: Principles of Climate Change Economics and Policy (Master level, 6 ECTS)
2022 Winter Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Assisted in teaching ENR22806: Principles of Climate Change Economics and Policy (Master level, 6 ECTS ) with Dr. Xueqin Zhu and Dr. Ina Möller
Provided feedback on literature review papers of master students and completed grading assignments

🪁 Mentoring Experience

Co-supervisor of Master Thesis (03/2022-05/2024)
Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Co-supervised Jia Zhou with Dr. Xueqin Zhu on the master thesis of “Exploring optimal cover crop management practice in China Loess Plateau by model simulation and mathematical programming”
Co-supervised Huangshu Zhao with Dr. Hans-Peter Weikard on the master thesis of “Optimising county-level manure redistribution in Handan, China to balance economic and environmental benefits”
Co-supervised Kehan Qiu with Dr. Rolf Groeneveld on the master thesis of “A computable general equilibrium model for evaluating the economic impact of biofuel policy in the Netherlands”

Chair of Master Thesis Ring (01/2022-12/2022)
Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Organised weekly sessions to help master students improve the clarity and conciseness of their thesis
Facilitated constructive peer feedback to enhance the quality of master students’ written work

💡 Academic Services

Peer-reviewed Journal Article Reviewer: Nature Food (2025).
Conference Paper Reviewer: The XVIII European Association of Agricultural Economists (EAAE) Congress (2025).
Conference Abstract Reviewer: The 2024, 2025, and 2026 Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Annual Meeting (2024-2026).
Conference Parallel Session Chair and Discussant: The 29th Annual Conference of European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) (2024).
Conference Co-organiser: The 6th and 7th Sino-Dutch Agriculture Green Development (AGD) Symposiums (2022-2023).

💻 Skills

Programming: General Algebraic Modeling System (GAMS, advanced, e.g. model establishment), General Equilibrium Modelling PACKage (GEMPACK, intermediate), and R (intermediate).
Modelling: Applied general equilibrium (AGE) modelling, life cycle assessment (LCA), input-output (I-O) analysis, material flow analysis (MFA), and meta-analysis.
Software: ArcGIS, Simapro, Github, Latex, and Microsoft Office.
Languages: Native to Mandarin Chinese. Strong reading, writing, and speaking competencies in English.

👧 Profession Association Memberships