Dr. Sampriti Baruah is a development professional, researcher, and policy leader with over 15 years of experience working at the intersection of sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, rural livelihoods, and food systems transformation across South and Southeast Asia. She currently serves as Head – Sustainable Agriculture, Food Land and Water Program in WRI India, where she works on advancing sustainable and resilient food production systems in India. Her work focuses on building research-driven pathways for agricultural transformation, strengthening policy frameworks at national and state levels, and fostering strategic partnerships with governments, research institutions, and development actors. 

Dr. Baruah holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies from the College of Public Affairs, University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she was a Lee Foundation Scholar at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). Her doctoral research developed and validated the “Small Farmers, Large Field” (SFLF) model — a synchronized collective action model designed to enhance productivity, profitability, and sustainability for smallholder farmers in India. 

Prior to joining WRI India, she spent six years with the International Potato Center (CIP), serving in multiple leadership roles across India and Vietnam, including Regional Research Specialist for Asia. Earlier in her career at IRRI, Dr. Baruah coordinated social science research under the Cereal Systems Initiative for South Asia (CSISA), focusing on technology adoption, participatory research, and inclusive agricultural innovation in India and Bangladesh. She has also worked with state institutions including the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority, contributing to post-earthquake livelihood rehabilitation and climate risk mitigation efforts. She also serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at Professor Jayashankar Telangana Agricultural University. 

An accomplished author, Dr. Baruah has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals including Food Security, PLOS ONE, and The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and has contributed book chapters and policy reports on collective action farming, sustainable intensification, and circularity in agriculture. She has presented her work at global forums including the World Potato Congress and international agricultural economics conferences. 

Dr. Baruah holds a master’s degree in social development and Sustainable Livelihoods from the University of Reading (UK), a master’s in social work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (India), and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Lady Shri Ram College, University of Delhi.  

Her work is driven by a deep commitment to enabling smallholder farmers — particularly women and resource-poor communities — to transition toward climate-resilient, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable agricultural systems.