Bobby Martens

Bobby Martens is the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives Endowed Professor and Associate Professor of Economics in the Department of Economics at Iowa State University. With over 25 years of expertise in logistics and supply chain management, Bobby has dedicated much of his career to advancing knowledge in these fields. He previously served for 15 years as an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management in the Debbie and Jerry Ivy College of Business at Iowa State. Bobby holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Purdue University, along with MS and BS degrees in Agricultural Economics from North Dakota State University. His work focuses primarily on cooperatives and agricultural/food supply chains, with 55% of his current role devoted to extension activities. A proponent of engaged scholarship, he collaborates directly with industry partners to produce research that bridges academic and real-world applications.

His scholarly contributions include publications in leading journals such as Decision Sciences Journal and Journal of Business Logistics, as well as agricultural-focused journals like the Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics. Bobby also contributes to Iowa State University’s Master’s in Seed Business and Technology program and teaches supply chain management in the E-MBA program specializing in Agriculture, Food, and Biosystems.

Before pursuing his Ph.D., Bobby gained practical industry experience as an account manager at Schneider Logistics and a product manager at the Case Corporation. Raised on a grain and cow-calf ranch in North Dakota, he now resides near Ames, where he enjoys life on a small farm with his wife and four children.