Peter E. Hildebrand earned his PhD from Michigan State University in 1959 in Agricultural Economics.
Hildebrand's international background encompasses work in over 31 countries over 35 years.
At the University of Florida, Hildebrand developed innovative methodological approaches to training research and extension programs to reach food producers in the United States and abroad.
He developed many of the basic ideas and approaches are the foundation for the Farming Systems Research and Extension methodology.
He was the founding president of the global Association for Farming Systems Research and Extension.