👋 About Me

Hi! I’m Axel Herrera, a dedicated agricultural engineer and postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, working at the intersection of regenerative agriculture, soil health, and sustainable farming systems.

With over a decade of international experience—from Colombia to China, Italy, and now the U.S.—my work bridges science and practice to help shape resilient, resource-efficient food systems. I specialize in life cycle assessment, soil nutrient dynamics, and on-farm decision-making, with a focus on vineyards and specialty crops.

My mission is simple: support farmers, researchers, and policymakers with science-based tools that drive real-world sustainability.

🔬 Current Research

I’m currently leading research on regenerative viticulture under the FFAR and CDFA projects at UC Davis. My work involves:

• Evaluating the economic and environmental trade-offs of regenerative practices like no-till, composting, and grazing.
• Analyzing soil health indicators across 12 vineyard trials in California and Oregon.
• Collaborating with growers to translate science into action through field demonstrations and workshops.

We recently submitted a manuscript on the economics of regenerative viticulture to the Journal of Environmental Management, and presented at the ASEV National Conference and a Regenerative Viticulture Field Day.

🎓 Education & Training

• PhD in Agriculture, Environment and Bioenergy
  University of Milan, Italy
  Focus: Environmental assessment of circular nutrient systems under the EU Horizon 2020 Nutri2Cycle project
• MSc in Agricultural Engineering
  China Agricultural University, Beijing
  Focus: GIS for bioenergy and suitability mapping
• BSc in Agricultural Engineering
  Universidad Nacional de Colombia
  Awarded Best Undergraduate Thesis (Cape Gooseberry agronomic evaluation)

I’ve also received professional training in:

• Life Cycle Assessment (SimaPro, openLCA)
• Soil cartography and digital mapping (ArcGIS, QGIS)
• Scientific leadership and project management

📚 Publications

I’ve authored multiple peer-reviewed articles in top journals like ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, Science of the Total Environment, and Cleaner Production, covering:

• Environmental impacts of bio-based fertilizers
• Pig slurry nutrient recovery systems
• Microalgae production systems
• Regenerative viticulture economics

[Full publication list available upon request or via ORCID/ResearchGate link]

🌱 Areas of Expertise

• Regenerative Viticulture & Soil Health
• Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
• Nutrient Circularity (C, N, P)
• GIS & Multicriteria Analysis
• Field Trial Design & Evaluation
• International Agricultural Systems

🤝 Let’s Connect

I’m always open to collaborations on soil health, sustainability assessment, or vineyard research. Whether you’re a researcher, farmer, or policy advocate, feel free to reach out via LinkedIn or email me at axelherreram@outlook.com.