Derek Byerlee

Derek Byerlee (born 30 April 1946) is an Australian agricultural researcher, economist and policy advisor.

He has held senior positions at Michigan State University, the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center and the World Bank.

Byerlee worked for the World Bank from 1994 until 2008 in a range of policy and research roles. He was the lead author of the World Bank's World Development Report 2008.

Byerlee was admitted to the honorary degree, Doctor of Economics (honoris causa), by The University of Adelaide on 15 September, 2016.

Byerlee was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours for "distinguished service to agricultural economics, particularly to sustainable development, poverty reduction and food security".

Byerlee said his interest in agriculture began in his childhood while growing up on a sheep and wheat farm near Eurelia in South Australia.