Magnus Jirström is a Professor in Human Geography with a focus on development geography. He teaches courses in development geography and development studies and supervises bachelor, master and doctoral theses. He is a member of the board of LUMID, Lund University Master Program in International Development and Management in which he convenes the course on Rural and Urban Development and Livelihoods. Magnus is a member of the Board of the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Magnus’ research interests focus on rural and agricultural development in low-income countries with a regional emphasis on sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.  His research work includes studies on: ●socio-economic and environmental impacts of technological change in smallholder agriculture; ●income diversification among smallholders; ●agricultural policy and the role of the state in agricultural transformations; ● urban agriculture and transforming urban food systems in secondary cities in sub-Saharan Africa; ●the role of local organizations and NGOs in rural development. Magnus is a co-founder and member of the LU-based Swedish-African Afrint group. Currently, he leads Challenge 4 "Smallholder Agriculture within Transforming Food System" being part of the Sida supported program Agriculture for Food Security 2030 – Translating science into policy and practice, www.slu.se/agrifose. 

Magnus currently participates in two research projects:

• Healthy vs. unhealthy food choices? Unpacking the drivers of mothers’ feeding decisions for their young children. A mixed methods study in Addis Ababa. Financed by The Swedish Research Council (VR) 2023-2026.
• Mixing household surveys, satellite imagery and machine learning in human development studies: Is it (finally) time for satellite imagery in social science research? Financed by Riksbankens Jubileumsfond (RJ) 2020-2023.