I am Poorni Ayesha Athapaththu; an emerging scholar in Agricultural Economics, currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. I graduated with a BSc Honours in Agricultural Technology & Management from the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, where I specialized in Applied Economics & Business Management. Currently, I am a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Peradeniya, contributing to the project titled “Developing Food Loss Reduction Pathways through Smart Business Practices in Mango and Tomato Value Chains in Pakistan and Sri Lanka,” funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. My role involves activities that aims to develop practical solutions for reducing food loss in these critical value chains mainly focusing on gender aspects. My research interest includes Agricultural policy analysis, Value chain analysis, International Trade, and Natural Resource Economics. In addition to my research work, I have gained valuable teaching experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics & Business Management. I am a member of the International Association of Agricultural Economists and actively participates in academic societies and events. My ambition is to make significant contributions to the field of Agricultural Economics, leveraging research to develop innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and economic growth.