Sustainability, waste reduction focus of new biological and ag engineering researcher
Feb. 23, 2026
By Amy Gimpel
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Kendrick Hardaway returns to alma mater as faculty after international experiences
- Research uses systems thinking and environmental modeling
- Evaluates emerging technologies in food, energy, water and infrastructure systems
(422 words)
Download a PHOTO of Kendrick Hardaway
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — As a new assistant professor of biological and agricultural engineering, Kendrick Hardaway brings expertise that could help Arkansas communities build more resilient food, energy, water and infrastructure systems.
Hardaway, a University of Arkansas alumnus, recently returned to the department of biological and agricultural engineering after earning graduate degrees from Purdue University and gaining international research experience.
Based at the Fayetteville campus, Hardaway is part of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas and the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, the research arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
His work focuses on helping decision-makers understand tradeoffs and design solutions within real-world environmental and economic constraints, using environmental modeling to evaluate how emerging technologies can reduce waste, enhance public health and support circular economies.
“I’m excited to collaborate with Arkansas communities to develop practical tools that address the state’s unique challenges,” Hardaway said. “My goal is to ensure research translates into real-world solutions that support sustainable development.”
Systems thinking
By applying systems thinking to food production, infrastructure resilience and waste reduction, Hardaway aims to provide farmers and communities with evidence-based tools to evaluate new technologies and practices for long-term sustainability.
Systems thinking is a way of understanding how different parts of a situation or problem connect to and influence one another, Hardaway explained.
“Instead of isolating a problem, my methods zoom out to see how actions in one area create effects, sometimes unexpected, in another,” Hardaway said.
An example of this in his own work has been evaluating the introduction of automation technology. Automation can improve efficiency, and sometimes safety, he said, but it can also require changes to infrastructure or agricultural processes and cause people to change their behavior.
“These changes can ultimately lead to unexpected costs or impacts months or years later, so I aim to anticipate and prevent these problems with my research methods,” Hardaway added.
Welcome back
Hardaway earned his master's in industrial engineering and a doctorate in environmental and ecological engineering from Purdue before gaining research experience in Greece, Norway and New Zealand.
Terry Howell Jr., head of the department of biological and agricultural engineering for the Division of Agriculture and the College of Engineering, said the international experience positioned Hardaway to bring diverse perspectives to Arkansas’ agricultural and infrastructure challenges.
“We’re honored to welcome one of our outstanding graduates back to campus to join our faculty,” Howell said. “Dr. Hardaway’s depth of compelling research will be valued by people all across Arkansas and help attract great talent to our graduate programs.”
To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit aaes.uada.edu. Follow the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station on LinkedIn and sign up for our monthly newsletter, the Arkansas Agricultural Research Report. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment)
without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital
or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other
legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Amy Gimpel
Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering
479-575-4929
agimpel@uark.edu